October 23, 2023
Melissa Valerio
I used to think that God would never give me more hardship than I can handle. I think it’s because I took 1 Corinthians 10:13 and twisted it. This is what it says: “No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.” (CSB) But what I heard was “God will not give you more than you can bear” and for the longest time, when going through the challenges of life, I’d repeat to myself like a mantra “God said He wouldn’t give me more than I can bear, so I must be able to bear this.” or “This will not overtake me because God wouldn’t give me more than I can handle.” But then I realized…. that’s not at all what the verse says. It says He will not TEMPT (or test) me beyond what I can bear. That’s very different than struggling through a hardship. In fact, it’s precisely this unbearable situation that allows us to see that we cannot get through it without Him. Paul knew of this despair; he says in 2 Corinthians 1:8 “We don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction that took place in Asia. We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength—so that we even despaired of life itself”. He said beyond our strength. Ok, so I’m not alone in thinking that some things are simply too hard for me to handle. But that’s exactly where God wants us if we are to recognize that there is no strength in ourselves — it can only come from Him. When everything else in life crumbles and melts away and we despair of life itself, that is when God illuminates Himself as our ever-present help.
The great news is this…if we belong to Jesus, we have the ability to face and persevere through any challenge that life brings us. Once we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as our personal savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. We can tap into Him at any moment and receive help, comfort, and peace. We know that God is sovereign and has purpose in everything, including those unbearable circumstances. He is at work within those grueling training sessions to teach us dependence on Him and to refine us like gold. His purpose is to make us more like His Son, and He knows the trials of life can do just that, if we allow them to. They are painful, yes! But they are so good for our soul. They keep us humble and dependent on the only strength we need – Jesus!
Prayer: King Jesus, Your strength is the only one that can get us through this life. Sometimes life is too hard! You know, You see, and You act. Rise up and help us when we need it most. Teach us to depend wholly on You, the only strength that can bear all things.
Action: When things become unbearable, strengthen yourself in the Lord. Here are some ways:
- Focus on God’s majesty and sovereignty, reminding yourself that there is nothing coming into your life that God has not planned for
- Talk to God from your heart. Be open, honest, and unfiltered, if necessary. He cares what you think and how you feel
- List several things that God has already done in your life
- Thank Him for going through this hardship with you
- Praise Him for what He’s doing through this hardship
- Fill your heart and mind with His word (the Bible) – read, read, read, read, and read some more