Does God ever give us more than we can handle?

Does God Ever Give Us More Than We Can Handle? You Bet He Does!

II Corinthians 1.8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers 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. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead. 10 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, 11 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.

We hear this untruth often, “God will never give us more than we can handle.”
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers 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, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.

Where did the untruth come from?

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.
II Corinthians 10.13

The difference between trials and temptation.

Trials without.
Temptations within.

Example of Trial = Three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace.
Example of Temptation = David and Bathsheba

We face both.
Temptations will not be more than we can bear.

Trials will be overwhelming at times.
“How much more can a person take?”
“I’m going to start calling you, Job.”
“No one is going to blame you if you quit.”

Here are some of those who were given more than they could handle:
Noah
Lot
Abraham
Jacob
Joseph
Moses
Habakkuk
Jeremiah
David
Jesus
Paul
John

I Peter 4.13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.


1. The Purpose of Trials

*Refining Process
Fire burns off impurities.
Job 23.10
But He knows the way that I take: when He has tried me, I will come forth as gold.


*Comfort
We are able to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God.
II Corinthians 1.3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,4 Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
It is a comfort for others to know that they are not going through these situations alone. Jesus is with them. He has brought us through them.

*Reliance on the LORD
 But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, Who raises the dead v.9
Our trials cause us to cry out to God.
Our trials make us search the scriptures.
We ought to be doing this without trials. This is Christian Maturity.

*Make Us Like Jesus
Hebrews 6.we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.



2. The Pressure of Trials

Beyond all measure

We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.
Jesus felt this.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," He said to them. "Stay here and keep watch.” Mark 14.34


Persecuted suffering church
China
Cuba
Nepal
Sudan
North Korea
Nigeria

God does at times give us more than we can handle.

*History validates it.
Fox’s Book of Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs

*Current events prove it.
Haiti
Iran
Nigeria

*Scripture attests to it.
From Genesis to Revelation!
Abraham and John


3. Answers To Prayer
One of the blessings to come out of trials of others is the prayers offered and the  answers to prayer that come as a result of those prayers.
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. vs.10-11


We carry souls on hearts and bring their needs to the LORD.

People appreciate prayer.
It shows God’s love.

Answers to prayer are a great blessing.
It shows God’s power.
It blesses God’s people. To Haiti With Love Prayer Warriors... blessing to Jhon, the church there.
The comfort of Christ.
Praying... need to engage today
Sending positive thoughts, sending prayers... to whom?
Praying to the God of Heaven and Earth!

Does God ever give us more than we can handle? You bet He does! But not without purpose and help and victory!