God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle

[Adrestia]

**warning - some mature content**

The saying is based on 1 Corinthians 10:13

"No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it."

Some people think it means that (1) God does [i]bad[/i] things to an individual to test his or her strength; and (2) the individual alone will be strong enough to withstand the tests.

That's just not the case. Last week my neighbor killed herself in her Ike-destroyed home after losing her job and learning that her husband was leaving her. God did not send the hurricane, take her job, or destroy her marriage. She was not strong enough to withstand the trials on her own (at least not in the moment that she pulled the trigger).

So why do people continue to say that God will never give you more than you can handle? That one verse is not meant to stand alone. The context of the tenth chapter of the first letter to the Corinthians is about idolatry and sacrifice. It makes the point that we who participate in the holy sacrifice of Christ are members of one body. In order to bear the trials of life, we must avoid idolatry, we must focus on the one true Lord, and we must depend on each other. We are not meant to go it alone.

[Galloglasses' Alt]

God does definately seem to have given me more then I can handle.

[Mari Therese]

Perhaps one should say, God doesn't give you anymore than He can handle for you.

[Lil Red]

+J.M.J.+
i've heard it said:
"God will never give you more than you think you can handle"

[CatherineM]

We can experience lots in life that seem insurmountable, but we can endure it so long as we don't lose our hope, and give into despair. I've heard it said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I heard a speaker at the Holocaust museum in St. Pete once, who when asked why she survived when so many else didn't, she didn't say that she was luckier than the ones who died. She said that she never gave up. She was willing to do whatever it took to survive. It is easier to look for an easy path than a harder one. Sometimes people who give up, just don't think they have the strength for the hard path, and are unwilling to ask for help. I'm horrible when it comes to asking for or accepting help, so I certainly understand the feeling.

[puellapaschalis]

The (almost certainly paraphrased) quote from Mother Theresa, "I know God never gives me more than I can handle: sometimes I just wish he didn't trust me with quite so much" has at times been the only thing that stopped me from doing something really very silly.

[Noel's angel]

I always think that the phrase should be 'God will never give you more than you can handle [b]with His help[/b]' because all things are possible through Him. On our own, we can do nothing, but in Him nothing is too difficult to be overcome.

[philothea]

I'm sorry to hear about your neighbor. That's just terrible. Poor woman.

I very much agree that you can't take that one phrase out of context. People are routinely tried "beyond their strength" -- which strength? People are raped and tortured and murdered -- those aren't events people just have the strength to undergo and are somehow failing to avail themselves of it.

Obviously, Paul means something true, though, and I think you're exactly right. There's someone out there who can help. [i]Together[/i] we have the strength to handle trials. (In my experience, that has been true.)

[philothea]

[quote name='Noel's angel' post='1749546' date='Jan 12 2009, 01:40 PM']I always think that the phrase should be 'God will never give you more than you can handle [b]with His help[/b]' because all things are possible through Him. On our own, we can do nothing, but in Him nothing is too difficult to be overcome.[/quote]
I think this is much too vague to be useful. What is "handle"? Have I failed to handle my trial if I sin? If I despair? What if I repent from either or both of those things later? What if the trial kills me?

The only thing I would state positively is that God doesn't cause anyone to sin, nor can any trial make you do so, (since, by definition, you have to act of your own informed volition in order to be able to sin) but your will, faculties, actual actions, and ability to function are fair game, as far as I've seen.

Edited January 12, 2009 by philothea

[Noel's angel]

er, I didn't make up the quotation. I didn't add the word 'handle'. It was there already. All I did was add what is already in the Bible. Handling something doesn't necessarily mean taking it in our stride. God allows suffering only because good can come from it, and although we may not understand why, if we trust in Him He will surely comfort us and ease our pain. We despair because we do not trust God enough, but through trials we can learn to do this.

Edited January 12, 2009 by Noel's angel

[philothea]

[quote name='Noel's angel' post='1749570' date='Jan 12 2009, 02:36 PM']er, I didn't make up the quotation. I didn't add the word 'handle'. It was there already. All I did was add what is already in the Bible. Handling something doesn't necessarily mean taking it in our stride. God allows suffering only because good can come from it, and although we may not understand why, if we trust in Him He will surely comfort us and ease our pain. We despair because we do not trust God enough, but through trials we can learn to do this.[/quote]
I know, and I didn't mean to argue with you personally! I apologize!!

[Adrestia]

[quote name='Noel's angel' post='1749570' date='Jan 12 2009, 02:36 PM']er, I didn't make up the quotation. I didn't add the word 'handle'. It was there already. All I did was add what is already in the Bible. Handling something doesn't necessarily mean taking it in our stride. God allows suffering only because good can come from it, and although we may not understand why, if we trust in Him He will surely comfort us and ease our pain. We despair because we do not trust God enough, but through trials we can learn to do this.[/quote]
It's not easy to trust God in the midst of the trials. The largest employer in Galveston laid off thousands of employees after the Ike hit. I would not be surprised if a majority of people down here gave in to despair at one point or another in the past few months.

My neighbor was a smart, young woman - only 35 years old - she already had a graduate degree and was working on her doctorate. I can't help wondering if she would be alive now if she didn't have a firearm. Some other forms of suicide are not instant. You can change your mind after starting to slice your wrist... you can call a hospital and have your stomach pumped after taking a bottle of pills... the gun doesn't require a commitment of the will.

[Tinkerlina]

I've often had a hard time understanding this too. I suppose it means that, in the end, if you depend on God, He can always make good come of a situation, no matter how bad. I know this often sounds vague and mysterious but "God's ways are not our ways" and we can't know what kind of good he'll bring out of something terrible. Prayers for your neighbor. -Katie

[rkwright]

I think the 'way out' in the verse is salvation itself. If we are faithful through the trials, God will save us in the end.

God's mercy and salvation are greater than any trial. We can handle any worldly issue with this in mind.

Prayers for your neighbors.

We're good in downtown H-Town - but I've seen the pictures. Prayers to all you still down there.

[Adrestia]

[quote name='rkwright' post='1749701' date='Jan 12 2009, 05:59 PM']I think the 'way out' in the verse is salvation itself. If we are faithful through the trials, God will save us in the end.

God's mercy and salvation are greater than any trial. We can handle any worldly issue with this in mind.

Prayers for your neighbors.

We're good in downtown H-Town - but I've seen the pictures. Prayers to all you still down there.[/quote]
Thanks. On a personal note, I'm still living with friends because my place has not been repaired. This afternoon I'm meeting with two more contractors. I could really use some prayers.