If you were given a notebook and a pen and asked to write down what you know about God, how would you describe Him? If you were asked to write down your favorite Bible verse, which verse would you select?

How you answer those questions is important because the way we view God hugely impacts the way we read scripture.

I’ve heard several people say in times of trial that their favorite verse is 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 speaking specifically to temptation, but I think often times that is overlooked and typically the takeaway is that “God wont give me more than I can handle!” There’s a certain arrogance that accompanies this statement. Almost like an underlying assumption that we are capable of handling any difficulties by our own strength, when clearly that isn’t so. In John 15:5 we are told, “…apart from me you can do nothing.”

If I were the judge of how much I could handle, I’d get a paper cut and that would be the end of it. I’d throw my hands up in surrender, crying out to God asking Him how he could allow me to endure such misfortune.

But God is the judge of what we can handle, and I believe He is constantly pushing us past the limits of what we think we are capable of enduring to show us just how completely dependent we are on Him.

If we operate under the mindset that God will never give us hardship beyond what we can bear, we will ultimately be let down. According to John 15:5, you cant do anything apart from Christ. You can’t drink a glass of water, tie your shoes, or wash the dishes apart from Christ. You do not make your own heart beat. Whether we realize it or not, we are completely dependent on Christ for basic life functions as well as making it through trials of life. When you give your life to Christ, your life is no longer your own, He’s doing all the work. So really, God will never give you more than HE can handle.

I know that sounds jumbled and complicated, but really it’s pretty simple. Apart from Christ we are nothing and can do nothing. With Christ and through Christ we can do all things.

I apologize for maundering on. As poorly written as this may be, I just wanted to jot down my thoughts on the topic before they escaped my mind altogether. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well!