How much can you bear?

Have you ever been struggling with something and heard, “He’ll never give you more than you can bear?”  If that’s true, you think to yourself, “I must be able to handle this.”  Then you try to pull it together to get through that tough situation in your life.  That quote gives you confidence that you can do it.  You should be able to handle any problem that comes your way, because God is letting you go through it, right?

If you still felt discouraged after hearing that quote, and wished God wouldn’t think you could handle so much, take courage.  That’s not what the Bible says.  The first part is misquoted, and people never get to the end of the verse.  The full message of 1 Corinthians 10:13,

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

(Underline added)

The point of the scripture is that he will provide a way out.  He is the way out.  We are supposed to always rely on God for everything.  He is the rock, the way of escape, our refuge, the one who directs our steps, the light to our path. (Psalm 18:2, Psalm 91:2, Jeremiah 10:23, Psalm 119:105) We were made to rely on him because it is all too much for us to bear alone.

I think our enemy twisted the words of that verse to separate us from our father. When we go through a tough time, we are supposed to look to God.  Psalms 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7 tell us to cast all our cares on God.

Thank you Jehovah for being my refuge.  Thank you for remembering that I am mere dust.  I will lean on you instead of my own understanding.  You are my way of escape from any problem.  You are my answer.  I cannot bear anything alone.  With you, I can bear all things.