Confronting The Lie: God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle

[CrossCuT]

This is a blog entry by a  pastor who is giving, what i think, is an interesting twist on a phrase that some of us may have used before to quell someone who is going through some sort of grief or struggles.

The only reason Im posting it is because its a perspective I havent heard before and I can appreciate it. I have used this phrase before on friends with the intention that it would help them, but I realize now that it may have a hidden meaning.

It could suggest that the person is not strong enough to handle what God is throwing at them even though they should be. It, in my mind, it could dismiss their struggles and could potentially make them feel worse.

 

"God wont give you more than you can handle"...so buck up and deal with it! Where in reality, this may not be the best advice. Those are just my thoughts.

 

 This particular statement, that “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” isn’t even in the Bible.  There is a statement that sounds like it.  1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humankind.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”  But notice that verse is about temptation.  That’s it.  You won’t be tempted beyond what you can stand up against.  This text is not saying that you will not experience more than you can bear.  That idea just isn’t Biblical.

 

 

 

http://natepyle.com/confronting-the-lie-god-wont-give-you-more-than-you-can-handle/?fb_action_ids=10200546872782983&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%7B"10200546872782983"%3A338931422875087%7D&action_type_map=%7B"10200546872782983"%3A"og.likes"%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

[Guest]

Good post...Some people deal with and have dealt with some horrible stuff....To make it seem as if God is the cause of it and He is testing them is stupid...God will see and help you through anything but life sucks sometimes....And isn't fair....And some people deal with stuff no person should have to deal with....

[Apotheoun]

My dad used to like saying that phrase, and he believed it all the way up to the end of his life. He died a very painful death from pancreatic cancer in 1989 at the age of 58.

[Anastasia13]

Perhaps the most important point is anything given to us won't be more than He can handle?

 

I'm reminded of Philippian's 4:13 where people sometimes interpret it to mean they can do anything with Christ but the last search I did said it was Paul's secret to contentment and a way to do the will of God when we are struggling.

Edited October 9, 2013 by Light and Truth

[Nihil Obstat]

Hm... Something about this post rubs me the wrong way. I will post more if I get my thoughts in order.

[Guest]

So God gives a 5 year old cancer because its not more then they can handle ?

[Apotheoun]

So God gives a 5 year old cancer because its not more then they can handle ?

This is how my dad explained it to me before he died of cancer. 

 

God did not give me cancer, but He is helping me to deal with the suffering it causes by giving me the strength to meet any challenge. Even death.

[arfink]

Oh yes, we will all experience more than we can bear. This is why we die. If we could bear everything we would be immortal in this life. As it is, we need God to bear us.

[Lil Red]

I hate trite phrases like "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." For me, it effectively shuts down communication between me and another person. I would rather a person say to me "I don't know what to say. I know you are struggling/suffering, and I hurt for you. I will pray for you, and I will be available to you if you need to talk."

 

edit: i'm just now reading the article you posted. 

Edited October 9, 2013 by Lil Red

[Apotheoun]

I hate trite phrases like "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." For me, it effectively shuts down communication between me and another person. I would rather a person say to me "I don't know what to say. I know you are struggling/suffering, and I hurt for you. I will pray for you, and I will be available to you if you need to talk."

I agree that these types of phrases are not useful when the person saying it is not going through the difficulty, but it is different if the person experiencing the pain (or whatever it may be) uses the phrase.

[Lil Red]

I agree that these types of phrases are not useful when the person saying it is not going through the difficulty, but it is different if the person experiencing the pain (or whatever it may be) uses the phrase.

 

if it helps the person suffering, they can use whatever platitudes and phrases that help them cope/grief/bear through, with no judgment from me. personally, i tend to shy away from these kind of phrases, even when I am the person suffering. 

Edited October 9, 2013 by Lil Red

[Apotheoun]

if it helps the person suffering, they can use whatever platitudes and phrases that help them cope/grief/bear through, with no judgment from me. personally, i tend to shy away from these kind of phrases, even when I am the person suffering. 

My dad liked the phrase that is in the title of this thread. But again I do not remember him ever saying "God will not give you more than you can handle"; instead, he always said, "God will not give me more than I can handle." I think that my dad's usage involves a vital distinction.

[CrossCuT]

Hm... Something about this post rubs me the wrong way. I will post more if I get my thoughts in order.

 

I had the same initial reaction when I read the title as it was posted on a friends FB page, but after reading it I understood what the author was trying to communicate. I do think his analysis of the phrase is accurate though...of course you could argue that people might be reading too much into the phrase in order to find something to take offense to, but in all reality one CAN conclude that it has a negative connotation. I dont think its a stretch to interpret it that way.

[Nihil Obstat]

For one thing we do need to separate 'Platitude Christianity' from the concepts expressed by whatever platitudes are being discussed. I am sure we can agree that telling a person who feels that they are in an unbearable situation that "God won't give you more than you can handle" is likely not helpful, at least in a particular scenario. But that does not necessarily mean that the concept expressed in the platitude is wrong.

It might be, but it might not be. The fact that platitudes can be trite and unhelpful does not necessarily mean they are precisely incorrect.

[CrossCuT]

For one thing we do need to separate 'Platitude Christianity' from the concepts expressed by whatever platitudes are being discussed. I am sure we can agree that telling a person who feels that they are in an unbearable situation that "God won't give you more than you can handle" is likely not helpful, at least in a particular scenario. But that does not necessarily mean that the concept expressed in the platitude is wrong.

It might be, but it might not be. The fact that platitudes can be trite and unhelpful does not necessarily mean they are precisely incorrect.

 

I agree. I dont think any person in their right mind would use that phrase on someone who got cancer, was raped, or other such things.

 

But as far as the truth behind the phrase..ehhhh sure, but at the same time I dont know if its an appropriate thing to use. Depends on the circumstances I suppose.