“Don’t worry. God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
We’ve all heard this. Perhaps said it ourselves. We mean it as encouragement – like a stamp of confidence that the one struggling in trial must be strong enough or God wouldn’t have allowed whatever it is to happen. But this isn’t always true.
There are times you will be tempted beyond what you can withstand. Sometimes the suffering, trials, tests, emotions, LIFE is too much, and we can’t easily stand. It is all more than we can handle – by design.
God’s Word tells us there is purpose in our suffering. We may never understand it, but suffering and trials do have a way of narrowing our focus. And, bringing us to the end of ourselves. I know that doesn’t sound like something we want. We like control and fight to be “strong.” But God wants us to see our need, limitation and weakness so we learn to live dependent on him.
In the book of Exodus, God came to Moses in a burning bush to appoint him as the one who would lead the Israelites out of slavery. But Moses didn’t thinks so! This was waaaaaay out of comfort zone and far more than he could even handle thinking about. Running through his head were all the reasons why he was NOT the right guy.
But for every one of Moses’ hesitations, God had a ready answer.
- When Moses said, “I am not the man to go,” God said, “I am with you.”
- When Moses said, “I don’t know who you are,” God gave his name.
- When Moses said, “I won’t be believed,” God gave signs.
- When Moses said, “I am not a good speaker,” God said, “I am your Creator and will guide your mouth.”
Every I am not from Moses was met with God’s I AM. Every I can’t met with God’s I can. Every I don’t have answered with God’s I will provide!
God is everything that Moses is not, and he gives Moses everything he needs. God did not call Moses because Moses was worthy. No, God promises to be with those who are unworthy and know they need him.
In every way we are weak, God is strong for us. Whether we feel ill-equipped, unprepared and not good enough like Moses did, or are weighted down by circumstances too big to handle, nothing is impossible for God. He takes our hesitations, doubts, insecurities and struggles to move us from our self-sufficiency to a deeper trust in the One who is everything for us that we are not.
If you are experiencing more than you can handle, turn your eyes to the One who says, “My precious one, I know you can’t, but I can.”
*** The Gospel-Centered Life in Exodus is temporarily sold out on Amazon but still available at New Growth Press. If you use it with a small group this semester/year please be sure to leave an Amazon review and send me a picture of your group!
Past posts in this Exodus-connected series include:
Do You Ever Feel Like God Has Forgotten You
