– By Joe Fornear
I hear it often, “God never gives us more than we can handle,” but is it true? The answer may surprise you.
I just celebrated my ten-year-anniversary of being cancer-free. Praise the Lord for that! Today, my Stage IV “terminal” battle seems so far away, yet I cannot shake the overwhelming sense of powerlessness that often enveloped me in those days.
Paul shared this feeling of powerlessness, but he discovered the perfect mindset to overcome as well:
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
God allowed Paul, and He allows us, to be in way over our heads, so we might find new levels of dependence on Him. Only then will His power and life be released in and through us. When His power is displayed in this way, we are transformed. As a result, we know Him better, and others can find Him through us – despite our weakened state. As God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you; My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8). Paul responded back, “I therefore rejoice in my weaknesses for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
So yes, God does give us more than we can handle, but only so we can handle much more eternally significant matters – through Him!
- So don’t be surprised at the intensity of your battle – He’s strengthening your faith in Him for eternal purposes!
- So don’t beat yourself up if you can’t handle things – you’re not supposed to in your own strength!
- So don’t pretend to be strong and in control when you’re not; embrace your weakness!
Father, help us really “get” how and why You work Your power into our lives.
