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| daydreaming... © Michael Jastremski |
About 5 years ago I had an International student ask me why Americans’ always say “let’s get together for coffee?” or “I’ll call you later” but never do. She asked me if she had done something wrong because this friend wouldn’t get back to her. I later heard that some internationals would wait in their apartments all day if someone said that they’d stop by tomorrow. As an American I knew that these people were only trying to be pleasant. But to the International student, it was painful.
There is one promise that I see written on facebook, written in cards, and spoken that just honestly makes me mad. Someone has just poured their heart out about an awful situation that they are going through and someone says “don’t worry, God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Really… this person is in the pits of depression… or just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer… or has just miscarried again… they are losing their house… or their child died because they were at in the wrong place at the wrong time…
I’ve sat next to a woman after she received that news that her husband, while doing his job as a cop, just killed man. While he was justified, no one knows how to handle that. Or next to the wife whose husband was just shot...
I’ve sat with a woman, who for 7 years has been trying to conceive. God has given her more than she can handle. There is nothing she can do to just decide one day to get pregnant.
I’ve sat next to a woman who just found out that her husband cheated on her and is moving out to live with the other woman, 2 weeks after she gave birth to his son.
We’ve all been there. So I am so glad to know that God never made that promise!! The often misquoted verse actually says “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. The verse says that God will not put you into a situation that you need to sin; He will provide a way out for you. Yet, people take it so far out of context. The only place that this verse should be used is to say that when an awful situation happens it does not excuse you to sin yourself.
But God doesn’t just leave us to grin and bear it by ourselves either. Paul writes us in his letter to the Philippians “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.
I don’t know about you, but I want to live with that peace that transcends all understanding. Pain WILL happen on this earth. Each of us will struggle with those events that happen around us or to us. If we think that God will not give us more than we can handle, we will be left with asking if God really cares! Or wonder if He is really there. If we lead others into the same thinking we have not allowed them to receive what God really offers. That is the peace that comes when we bring our pain, prayers, and struggles to Him.
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For some of those who are reading this, this peace is a new concept. For you, google Philippians 4 and read more of what God does promise in difficult situations.
I used to think that God wouldn't give me more than I could handle...When I was going though some hard spots in life, I prayed about it and said that I couldn't handle it. I was told that I CAN'T do it alone and that's why I need to lean on God. I believe that we are given more than we can deal with on our own because He wants us to cling to Him. My relationship with God has grown deeper every time I ran to Him instead of trying to figure it out on my own.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you chose this topic, earlier I was involved in a conversation along these lines, and I know it will come up again soon.