One of the most falsely taught doctrines in a believers life: God won't give you more than you can endure.
Yes, God can give us more than we can handle and there will be times in our life when He will! Guaranteed. No where in His Word does He say otherwise. Read what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.”
Paul’s agonizing choice of words are clear: “under great pressure,” “far beyond our ability to endure,” and “despairing even of life,” show us that the difficulties he and the other disciples experienced were well beyond their human ability to handle. Our Lord himself was faced with suffering in the Garden of Gathsemane when facing His torture and death: Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” And what did our Lord tell us about suffering and drinking from the cup that He has drank? Mark 10:38-39 “You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus said, “can you drink from the cup I drink or baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” Jesus said to them, “you WILL drink from the cup I drink and with the baptism I am baptized with…” Do we really think that a student is above his master?
All those who have given their lives in testimony of their faith were given more than they could handle...torture, suffering and death. But God gave them His strength to get through them all. They, and we, can not do it on our own. John 15:5 "...For apart from me you can do NOTHING." In this purpose, this path He has set before each of us, He will give us His strength to fulfill His Will. Psalm 46: 1-3 “God is our refgue and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will never fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”. And in this, we must be careful not to equate and personally interpret the Word of God with: "1 Corinthians 10:12 “No TEMPTATION has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will never 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.” Paul wrote this to a church in Corinth nearly 2000 years ago. He wrote this letter to them as a reminder that all are tempted but many choose not to “run” from the temptation but choose to fall into sin. This is the free will that God has given each of us.
Lets look at the definitions of both words:
Suffering: Greek word pathema: That which befalls one, i.e. a suffering, a
passion. Affliction, and undergoing, an enduring. (Strongs Concordance
3804. pathema)
Temptation: Greek word peirazo: To make proof of, to attempt, test, tempt.
To try. (Strongs Concordance 3985, peirazo)
“Suffering” and “temptation” are not the same and Paul was addressing the reality of suffering beyond what we can endure. We do not have a choice with suffering but do with temptation! With temptation we have the choice to run from sin or to engage it. God has promised us that He will give us a way to “run from it”. This incorrect teaching gives "false hope" and a questioning of God's Will when this happens. Some will doubt God’s faithfulness to His Word; Some will guestion God’s love; Some will even fall away. Choosing to believe a lie rather than His truths. And what we choose will not change or alter His Will for us in our lives. How many times have we gone though these times of suffering, and believed that we will not because of misunderstanding His Word, but continue to do so? What we believe, or do not believe, will in no way change God’s will for us in this. He is the sovereign God! Exodus 18:23 "If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to ENDURE, and all these people will go to their place in peace."
How many believers have stood up for the Word of God and HIS truths? That is one of the biggest failures of a believer...afraid to stand for the truths of His Word as we are told to. Afraid that we will be rejected by, or affend those belivers that are in error of the truths of God’s Word. That is what so many gave their lives for. I, personally, will NEVER back down from the truths of the Word of God. Why? Because my Father in heaven commands me to stand strong in His Word. 1 Corinthians 16:13 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong." And yes, in this I have ruffled many feathers and suffered because of it. But I will never stop! This is what Satan does best in a believer's life...mixing truth with lies. And where does the understanding of His truths come from? Not by any man. Man can teach us His Word’s but not the understanding of them. They come from one place alone…the Holy Spirit. which dwells in each true believer. 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”
I, as many, have suffered at times beyond what I believed I could possibly endure. But the Lord had given me HIS strength, and carried me, and is still doing so, through it all. I trust in His Words, as we all should. And these times have made me, and makes us all, so much stronger. Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.”
1 Peter 4:12-13 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
If you are here reading His Word in these things, ask yourself why and remember these, His Words: Isaiah 55:11 “So is my Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve that purpose for which I sent it.” Praise God and thank you for continually bring us to the truths of your Word.
I, myself, am proof of this fact. The Lord has led me through the most difficult tests and trials that I could have ever imagined. Yet, His strength, not mine, is what has saved me...sustained me. I wish to share this with you so that you never loose hope. I had posted this here on this site.The out-pouring of love and hope astounded me. And know that the Lord is faithful to His Word...He will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.
Post:
This is very hard for me to write as I am a very private person. As I write it, I relive it all over again. But the Lord told me to write again, and so I must be obedient.
Brothers and sisters, thank you for all your prayers. The Lord is bringing me through tests and trials that I never new were possible. I have been placed on the front line in the battle against the enemy. For those of you who don't know, I will share with you what I am being led through. And yes, believe that the Lord will allow us to suffer more than we can handle. So the Lord's strength, the Lord Himself has imparted to me His strength. It would be impossible otherwise on my own. In a three month period, this is what the Lord is bringing through: I awoke one morning to find that my wife of many years had left me for another. Thew next week I developed severe pneumonia and was hospitalized because I could no longer breath. I almost didn't make it! I continued in a state of severe illness for three more weeks. The following week I suffered a heart attack. They had to shock me back to life. But the Lord said 'not yet'! The following week, I suffered multiple physical injuries that just came out of nowhere. Next, I suffered complete lose of all that the Lord had given me because my wife took it all! No money, no food, no nothing. Today I suffered another heart attack, but the Lord said "not yet".
This is the lessons I want to share with you all:
1. There is a purpose, a path that the Lord has set before each of us. We have the choice to blame God for not answering our prayers, or realize that He has answered them, but according to His Will...not ours.
2. The further our walk with God, the harder the tests and trials. If not, we would be taking a step backward...not forward.
3. He is faithful to His Word. The Lord NEVER left my side. I could always feel His presence.And He held on so tight to me, I could actually feel His Loving hands around my heart, soul, body, and spirit...and He wouldn't let go!
4. That each of us, at some point, will be required to drink from His cup.
5. In times of complete dispair and distress is where we learn the most. We are emptied of all hope and turn to God to fill it. This is where we truly develope trust, faith, and obedience to our Father.
6. In my prayers for deliverance, He answered them all...but according to HIS Will in my life...not mine. So therefore we must learn to align our prayers according to His Will. He answered my prayers. His answer: "Not yet". Teaching me true patience and trust in Him.
7. It is OK to ask God why! To seek of His purpose in all of this. But we must never blame Him for not hearing our prayers. That is from the enemy!
8. We will continue through these times until His purpose is complete...being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
9. And most importantly, full of love and thanksgiving for what He is doing in my life. Even though I do not yet understand His purpose.
Brother and sisters. Do not ever give up hope in the Lord. Do not blame Him for not answering our prayers. And do not walk away from Him. This is what kind of attacks of the enemy that the Lord is allowing in my life. In all of our lives. But He will never let it go beyond His Will. Whenever we are suffering more than we think we can take, just think of Job.
I thank Jesus with all of my heart for all that He is doing in my life. Because He is doing it out of the deepest love for me that there can be. The same love He has for each of us.
I see so many prayers before our Lord that are completely out of His Will with ungratefullness for all that He has done in our lives. I see so many question God; blaming Him for not helping them as they want. What should our response be during these times? He tells us plainly in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus'.
Finally, there is Nothing that the Lord cannot ask of us...require of us. For His ways are above ours.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the Will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
God bless you all. I pray for the peace of the Lord to be poured out upon you all without measure.
Your comments are always welcomed and encouraged.
Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)