GOD WON'T GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE (?)

 

MAY 29, 2023

 2 Corinthians 1:3-11

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

 

Recently I heard in a conversation the following “God won’t give you any more than you can handle."  Have you ever said that?  Had that spoken to you? In my reflection on that phrase, I find that while it is a comforting thought, it may not be exactly true. That’s what we’ll look at and think about this week in our daily devotions.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul is precisely making that point to the church at Corinth. He describes great pressures and troubles “far beyond our ability to endure." Even going so far to say that they “despaired of life itself," Paul is forthright about the severity of these trials. Doesn’t exactly sound like something they could handle. Does it to you?

The point that Paul is making is clear when he shares what he believes to be the purpose: “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (vs. 9). What if God DOES give us more than we can handle so that we must rely on Him? 

In verse 10 Paul speaks of God delivering them “as you help us by your prayers.”  He shows their dependence not only on God, but on the prayers of the community of believers, interceding on their behalf. The point that strikes me is the Bible message seems to be we need others.

I genuinely hope this encourages you in the midst of challenging places in your life. The bible’s message to us is that we can’t handle it alone. Maybe we just need to repeat these words I saw recently on a post, “I can’t, God can, I think I’ll let Him.” When the pressure’s on, I invite you to surrender that which is “far beyond your ability to endure” to His gracious provision. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles …” Amen.