"God won't give you more than you can handle." NOT

Has anyone ever said that to you when your sharing with someone that you're feeling overwhelmed?  I used to say that.  I don't say that any more.  Where in the Bible does it say "God won't give you more than you can handle."?  There is a verse, 1 Cor 10:13, that says something like that, however, that's about fleeing temptation.  NOT what I'm talking about here.

I'm not talking about feeling overwhelmed because you took too much on for the day.  I'm talking about feeling overwhelmed just because you can. Maybe you don't have days like that, but when you're struggling with an anxiety disorder there are often days like that.  I'm talking about when you're feeling like you've got too much on your plate (like dinner, and laundry, and picking up kids, and, and, and,), whether is just a normal day with too many expectations laid on you or it's in the midst of a trial/hardship and someone says, "God won't give you more than you can handle".

Really?  When my mind is healthy I have days where I can't handle/balance everything.  I especially can't handle everything when He brings trials and tribulations into my life.  When my mind is unbalanced I can't even handle doing the laundry, going to the grocery store, making dinner.  So this is what I think of that saying.   That's a load of

.

NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT SAY THAT.  In fact, I believe it says the opposite.  Doesn't it often talk about "your burden is heavy" "Lay your burden down"?   You know that saying "I've got a full plate today."?  I feel like I have a load of sloppy spaghetti hanging off the sides of my plate with the side dishes already fallen off to the floor.  Broccoli bouncing off the kitchen floor, garlic bread falling in mid air about to land butter side down.  And why does it feel like I get a small dessert plate some days to carry my load when I need a stinkin' vegetable plater divider thingie to help me compartmentalize and organize.  (See picture on side.  What DO you call those things anyway?) And that's how I feel when my mind is HEALTHY!

As hard as it is sometimes, it is GOOD that God allows us to have more on our plate than we can handle.  Stick with me here.  This is what happens when He does that.
1.  We learn that we're not all that and a bag of chips.  Or as my friend Gwen says, "We think we're hot snot on a silver plater when really we're just cold boogies on a paper plate".
2.  We come to the realization that we NEED God;  His strength, His comfort, His peace, His wisdom, His discernment.
3.  We need to be reminded that we can't do all things but He can.
4. Our faith is made stronger
5.  We see God move and provide for us (sometimes we can't see this until the storm has passed)
And most importantly we come to the realization of two very important things that answer the "Why does this hard/bad thing have to happen to me?" question.
6.  God will NEVER allow something to happen that won't, in the end, bring His name glory.
And
7.  God will NEVER allow something to happen UNLESS it's going to shape us (those of us who have a relationship with Him) and mold us into the image of Christ.   Or for those of us who don't have a relationship with Him, help us realize we NEED to be in relationship with Him.




He loves us enough to bring us to the end of our rope, asks us to let go, and helps us realize we do, in fact, need a Savior.  Why do we need to "cling to the end of our rope" as the world says....














when it's HE who is already holding us in the palm of His hand.
 We just waste energy when we try to cling to our rope.
Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you;  Do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".






Imagine if we never had hardship.
1.  There would be no reason for relationship with God.
2.  We would never experience His Grace and mercy, His comfort and strength.
And most importantly,
3.  We would never experience His loving kindness through forgiveness.

Now, granted a break from hardship would be nice.  A break from a broken world, broken relationships, broken minds.  But for now, I'll just choose to find my rest in Christ alone (Great song to listen too especially the first verse in relating to this subject. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENtL_li4GbE )and throw my spaghetti and sides on His plate, For His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light".

So what do you say?  Let's stop saying/thinking "God won't give me more than I can handle"  and let's let go from the wearing clinging to the end of our rope, and drop safely and securely into the hand of our loving savior......and find rest.  Who's with me?