There's a common saying I've been pondering: "God never give you more than you can handle."

It seems to me, that we are often given more than we can handle and that such a "gift" makes us grow.  So I would restate the axiom as:

"God never gives you more than you can handle, but he sometimes gives you more than you can handle in your current state."

Would you agree?  Do you have observations that support or refute either statement?

 


Comments

Todd

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:16:27

I think the notion behind your re-statement of the cliche is that most times we don't have a realistic idea of what exactly we can handle. We may think that we can't handle "x", but until we face, we'll never know.

A second reaction to the question is that I'm not sure how this idea applies to the many people who choose to end their own lives. If a person's life experiences drive them to a place where they choose to end their life, how do we interpret that action in light of the idea that God doesn't allow more than you can handle? I don't have an answer to this question, but it's what comes to mind.

 

Sally

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 13:26:35

I certainly agree with your amended axiom. The thing is, in order to put this into practice, you must become closer to God. When you are already angry with Him{and I am} that's not so easily done. None the less I will keep trying to accept whatever He sends my way.

 

Cindy

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:20:05

Along the same lines of Todd's comment, I think and additional restatement could be that God often gives us more than we think we can handle. Still begs the question, though - what does it mean to "handle" something?

 

Erik

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:54:55

VERY interesting question, and some damn fine thoughts in response! Since I'm seeing everything through the lens of the "Fear Mastery" stuff I'm working to develop I agree that perception is a huge piece of this. And I think the critical thinking skills that we bring to the table also impact this issue. I've been tempted to suicide twice in my life, and both times it came down to deeply limited perspectives on my life and what I was experiencing at the time. Both times I was steered clear by lucid thinking (offered from outside me, but which I took to heart.)

In fact, now that I've said this, I think I would say that suicide usually results from the perspective that life has been reduced to an either/or proposition, in that moment, and that such a perception seems intolerable in that moment. And isn't one of the primary messages of God that He will sustain us, no matter what comes? Does this mean it comes down to a question of trust, on top of distorted perceptions in the moment?

 

Cynthia Siler

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:14:06

I have actually heard people claim this statement as being a quote from the Bible. It's definitly NOT in there. God promises to keep temptation from becoming so strong that we can't stand up against it (I Cor 10:13) but He never promises to not give us more than we can handle.

What God DOES promise is to be with us through whatever He allows. He will never leave us (Heb 13:5). That, for me, is good news!

 

Laura

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:40:12

Good point, Cyndi, that this is not a biblical promise but a secular axiom.

I suppose you could argue that God regularly gave folks in the bible more than they could handle. (Job, Peter, Paul, Jonah...the list goes on.)

And I do agree that there is good news indeed in the biblical promise you mention. I've found in my own recent predicaments that when I feel most alone, God makes his presence known.

 



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