Over the last several weeks, well-meaning people have told me to remember "God won't give you more than you can handle!" After contemplating Scripture and the events of my own life, this phrase is really now a "soap box" issue for me. God always gives us more than we can handle ... for a reason or purpose. Allow me to illustrate from the pages of Scripture.
Consider Genesis 6-9 with the events of Noah and the flood. The days of Noah were extremely wicked but Scripture tells us that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with god (Genesis 6:9). We are also told that God viewed Noah as a righteous man, Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation (Genesis 7:1). Noah was told to build an ark, a mighty sailing vessel, built to God's specific design. This was a monumental task considering the location and the environment. It took many years for Noah to complete this undertaking. Without the assistance of his friends and neighbors, in the midst of assumed mocking and taunting, Noah in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith (Hebrews 11:7). By giving Noah more than he could handle, God demonstrated His mercy and grace in saving Noah and his entire family.
Consider Genesis 22 with the events of Abraham and the sacrificing of Isaac. Isaac was the son of promise, the covenant son, through whom the family of Abraham would become numerous and would one day bless all the nations. (cf. Genesis 15; 17). As the events of chapter 22 unfold, we are told that God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" ... "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you (22:1-2). Abraham waited 100 years for the birth of Isaac. Now, God wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him as a test of faith. The name Isaac means laughter. The birth of this lad brought great joy and laughter to the senior citizen couple Abraham and Sarah. Now after roughly 13 to 15 years of joy, God tests Abraham's faith. Again, humanly speaking this was more than Abraham could handle. But Abraham considered that God was able even to raise him [Isaac] from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back (Hebrews 11:17). By giving Abraham more than he could handle, God demonstrated His great love which develops faith in His child(ren). God designs our lives in such a way that our faith increases and we respond by giving our best, our greatest love and worship to Him alone.
Before anyone says it's all Old Testament people, times have changed, let's consider some New Testament examples. First there is John the Beloved, one of "the sons of thunder". John along with Peter and his brother James were the "act first, think second" type of individuals. Yet through the course of his life, John mellowed in personality, not intensity. As a result of his stand for Christ, the elder statesman of the church was sentenced to exile on the Isle of Patmos. The disciple was an old man at the time of his exile (mid-80's to early 90's). He was exiled to face the harsh forces of nature. However, by allowing John to experience more than he could humanly handle, God inspired him to write the Book of Revelation detailing Christ's final victory and describing the Christians final home.
Consider Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul was afflicted with a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. The apostle prayed three times to God that this messenger should be removed. The implication is that this affliction was more than Paul could humanly handle. Yet notice God's response and Paul's submission. The Lord said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore Paul says, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Paul says, "I am strong when things are more than I can handle because that is when God's grace is the most on display in my life and I can then handle whatever is sent my way."
Our God is the God of the impossible. He gives more grace when the burdens of life grow insurmountable. He sustains when there is no light visible at the end of the tunnel. He redeems, He saves those who were once dead in sin and gives them new life, eternal life. The next time someone says to you, "God won't give you more than you can handle!" remind them that God ALWAYS gives us way more than we can handle so that He alone is on display ... His greatness, His love, His grace, His mercy. Great is His faithfulness!
