Guided by The Gospel – Issue 268 (Where We Get It Wrong: “God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle”)

Faithful Travelers,

You’ve heard it. You’ve maybe even said it.

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

It’s meant to comfort, but let’s be honest—it doesn’t always land that way. Especially when you’re drowning in grief, overwhelmed by life, or hanging on by a thread.

This phrase feels biblical. But it isn’t. Not really. Not in the way most people use it.

This idea is usually pulled from 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 that verse is about temptation, not suffering. Paul’s not saying you’ll never face more than you can handle—he’s saying God will always provide a way out when temptation comes.

Big difference.

In fact, the Bible is full of people who faced way more than they could handle on their own:

• Moses overwhelmed by leadership
• Elijah crying out to die
• Paul “despairing of life itself”

The truth? Sometimes you do face more than you can handle.

That’s the point. So you learn to rely on the One who can handle it.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

The phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle” isn’t just inaccurate—it’s unhelpful. It makes people feel like they’re failing when the load gets too heavy.

But what if the load is meant to lead you to surrender?

• Instead of saying “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” try: “God will never leave you in what you can’t handle alone.”
• Or, “You weren’t meant to carry this by yourself.”

God doesn’t expect strength from you in every moment. He invites your weakness so His strength can be seen.

When you hit the end of yourself, that’s not spiritual failure. That’s often where real trust begins.

With Hope and Faith,

Edward C. Thomas

Guided by The Gospel

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