“God will not give you more than you can bear.”
Most of us have probably heard this sentence given as a word of encouragement to someone going through a hard time. Maybe they are sick or multiple challenges are coinciding in their life. However, is it true that God will not give you more than you can bear?
I’ve met plenty of followers of Christ who have been given more than they can bear. Was the mom who eventually died of breast cancer given more than she can bear? How about the Christians being martyred for their faith around the world? There are a myriad of tragedies that affect the lives of believers who eventually lose the physical and emotional battle.
I know several people personally who are going through health problems that they would say are definitely more than they can bear. They have been broken physically though their faith may remain by a thread. Some have even looked forward to death to come and bring relief.
The reality is, this saying is actually an egregious misquote of 1 Corinthians 10:13:
“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.”
This verse is clearly about temptation and God giving us the ability to overcome it. It has nothing to do with God preventing us from reaching our breaking point. Our happy ending doesn’t really occur until heaven, so, until that time, we know there will be hard times.
Here are two encouraging verses to share instead:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
