Does God promise not to give us more than we can handle?

by Elizabeth Stewart

I've heard it said many times that God promises not to give us more than we can handle. It's often preceded by the words, "In the Bible it says". So, I've unsuccessfully tried to find a verse that says that. If you know of such a verse, please let me know. The Bible does say in 1 Corinthians 10:13,
"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." But it seems to me that this verse is talking specifically about temptation. It is saying that God always provides a way of escape out of temptation.

There are many, many things that have been more than I can handle. As a young wife and mother, I couldn't handle being a good wife and a good mother. I had to daily pile my troubles on God's shoulders and let Him carry my load. Each day I would ask Him to help me to be the wife and mother  I should be that day. Every day, one day at a time, He helped me do what was too hard for me to do on my own.

As I was reading the book of Numbers this week, I got to chapter eleven where Moses asks God why He gave Moses the burden of leading the children of Israel. "I can't do this by myself-it's too much...I've seen enough; I've had enough. Let me out of here." (Num. 11:11-15 MSG) So, God gives Moses some very practical, hands on help. He gives him seventy men to help him carry the leadership load. I can relate to Moses. Leading people is not easy. It is an impossible load to carry without the help, wisdom and strength of God and also the hands on help of co-laborers in ministry.

There are so many other things that are more than we can handle on our own. We can't save ourselves from sin, we can't deliver ourselves from bondage, we can't love others unselfishly, we can't forgive the unforgivable, we can't control our tongue...let's just admit it, without God's continual help we are all in a world of hurt! I'm so thankful that He wants to help us. He wants to bear our burdens. He wants to give us strength when we are weak. He welcomes and He wants our dependence to be on Him, not on ourselves. So today, I'm piling all my troubles, all my lack, all my weakness, on God's very capable shoulders. I'm letting Him carry the load. I'm trusting Him to help me with all of the things that are more than I can handle. Care to join me?

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