“Life sometimes brings enormous difficulties and challenges that seem just too hard to bear. But bear them you can, and bear them you will, and your life can have a purpose.” - Barbara Walters 

Are you walking through a difficult season where the pain of life seems like too much to bear? Are you trying your best to solve your own problems, but feel overwhelmed? Perhaps, like many, you dislike having to depend on others. You would rather come up with your own solution to your own problem. Maybe you've been taught or heard someone with good intentions say, "God won’t give you more than you can handle" as a way to comfort you.  But, WHO originally said that, really? It wasn't Jesus… and unfortunately, many believe this is what the Bible says. 

But, here's what the Bible actually says:

"...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..." 1 Corinthians 10:13

TESTING AND TEMPTING ARE NOT THE SAME

Scripture never says that God won't let you endure more than you can handle. What it does say is that you won't be tempted beyond what you can handle. Being tested and feeling tempted are two different things. Think about it like this: Enduring hard things - a child’s death, a divorce, an illness - and being tempted in hard ways - whether it’s to stop overspending, stop overeating, or stop drinking alcohol when everyone around you does it - they're not the same thing. 

Life comes with its set of challenges, and while you are in it, it doesn't feel good, it doesn't seem fair and we wonder: WHY would God allow us to go through all that we are going through?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN YOUR TRIALS

Here's some GOOD news for you: Jesus doesn't desire for you to go through any of what you are experiencing alone. Jesus wants you to depend on Him! He knows what it's like to feel overwhelmed and go through hardship that you don't want to have to go through. When Jesus was about to face the crucifixion, He felt deeply troubled and distressed. Scripture tells us that Jesus prayed "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." in Matthew 26:38. Can you imagine what Jesus was feeling in that moment? Look what the next verse says, "...He fell with his face to the ground and prayed. ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me Yet not as I will, but as you will.’" (Matthew 26:39). 

The truth is, Jesus understands how troubled and anxious we may feel in the overwhelming moments we face. Even in those moments, He wants us to lay everything – our grief, our issues, our troubles, our pain, our loneliness, our depleted relationships; whatever we are bothered by or frustrated over – and give it to HIM! 

STUFF JESUS NEVER SAID

What lies have you believed that Jesus never said? Maybe you’ve believed the falsehood that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, when the truth of the matter is, God doesn’t give you more than HE can handle. God can handle it all and because of this truth, let’s do what Psalm 55:22 (MSG) instructs us to do:  "Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out..."

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For additional, related content from Liquid Church, check out the resources below:

• MESSAGE: For the full message from Part 1 of Liquid Church's Stuff Jesus Never Said series, click here. 
• ARTICLE: Does God Answer Prayers? - Do you ever feel like your prayers have gone unanswered? Click here to read the full article about how God answers prayers.
• ARTICLE: How To Have Peace Of Mind - Life is always moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts. Click here to learn how you can have peace of mind even in the midst of worry and anxiety.