More often than not, I see my Facebook friends comforting one another by saying "God won't give you more than you can handle." The first time I read this quote a few years ago, I was filled with pride and comfort from my faith. But as I've gotten older, this quote has become a huge pet peeve of mine.
I've had my share of emotional wounds and heartache. When I am down, I want to be picked up. Like everyone else, I want to be comforted until I feel better, and that is exactly what this quote does. It is intended to encourage perseverance. However, this quote is a lie.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I would much rather be hurt by the truth, than comforted by a lie. Luckily for us though, this particular truth does not hurt us! You see, God will give you more than you can handle. If he didn't, we wouldn't even need him. So by saying that he won't, you're actually saying he has no purpose in this world. But come on, the big guy created the world, so he most certainly has a purpose. In fact, he is the purpose.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won't give you more than you can handle. But Lamentations 3:22 (NLT) states that "though he brings grief, he shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love." Unfailing love. No one but God can give you that. In fact, God loves you so much that he sent His one and only Son to take up your cross and bear your sins and shame. Jesus died for you knowing that you may never love him in return. No one will ever love you more than Jesus himself. Talk about unfailing love!
The next time you're going through a rough patch, or hit a fork in the road, remember that God is giving you more than you can handle, but he is right there waiting for you to surrender and give it to him. He wants you to desire him and draw near to him. He wants to help, so just let him. He can handle it. He's got the whole world in his hands, and the pain that you're feeling can't compare to the joy that's coming. (Romans 8:18).
