When trouble arises people often claim, "God will not give you more than you can handle." While this can be a comforting thought, nowhere does scripture teach this!
Scripture does teach something similar. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, "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." God will not allow his people to be forced into sinning. When temptations arise, a way to escape sinning will exist. It may not be easy; but it will exist.
As for encountering situations beyond our ability, Paul wrote: "regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living" (2 Corinthians 1:8). Paul and his companions encountered a situation beyond their ability to endure.
If it were true that God will not give us more than we can handle, then Paul would have needed to look within himself for the strength to overcome. Paul found strength. However, it did not flow from within himself. He overcame by placing his trust in God who raises the dead (1 Corinthians 1:9). God delivered.
We find the same message in his letter to the Philippians. Having cast an umbrella enveloping the range of human experiences from having plenty to being in need, from being well fed to being without food, he wrote "I have learned the secret to contentment." What did these situations teach him? "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
Paul did pass through circumstances beyond his ability. However, they did not destroy him. Rather, he was sustained by the one who is greater. The ability came not from within Paul, but from above.
When we encounter excessive burdens and crushing situations, our hope lies in looking upward, not inward.
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