Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?
I’m a mom to toddler twins. Lizzie and Emily are adorable, sweet and a huge blessing. However, they really do drive me to my breaking point. Every.Single. Day.
This is hard. I like to think of myself as a “good mom”.
I want to be the mom who never yells.
I want to be the mom with the clean, cute, decorated house.
Heck, I’d even love to be the mom who can post cute things my kids say on Facebook, but the truth is. . .the cute things are covered in dirty laundry, a yapping dog and my own squawking.
I have a Facebook friend with twin boys a bit younger than mine. Last night she posted about her not-so-great day, which included, among other things, non-napping twins. Another friend commented, that at least this is not the norm, and Kaia had to sigh and respond that, sadly, this was the norm.
A well-meaning friend added that “God never gives us more than we can handle!”.
Ah, yes. That.
You see, I lean on God’s promises a lot. I know that God will never leave me, nor forsake me. I know that God has great plans for me. I know that God has not given me a spirit of timidity.
But, I don’t remember ever reading in the Bible about God not giving me more than I can handle.
Because, my friends, He does challenge us.
Look at this from the letter that Paul (who was consistently given more than he could handle) writes to the Corinthians:
For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
Did you see that, friends? Paul and his companions felt that God had given them a death sentence. Things were that bad! (kind of makes twin antics in my living room seem tame, no?)
Ahh, but then we see why God tests us so. “But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” Yes, we are weak, but God has the power to raise people from the dead!
Alone, we can do nothing.
Alone, I am the worst mom on the planet.
We see that God has delivered us, and thus we know that he will deliver us again!
That, my friends, is way better than a pat on the back and the assurance that God wouldn’t push us past our comfort zones.
Because, my friends, he does, he really does.
If you are not feeling pushed, you just may not be paying attention.
Chime in! Share a time when you feel that you were given more than you could handle. How did you get through it?
Friday Bonus Video! Emily Sings “Jesus Loves Me” While her sister rolls around on the floor.
(go ahead, re-tweet it!)
Does God give us more than we can handle? dakotapam.com/does-god-give-…
— Pam Thompson (@Dakotapam) September 7, 2012
Well said! I too have twins girls – they are now 8 and my son is now 10….(it does get easier and they will be in school full days-someday- so stay strong!) I learned the hard way that God does indeed ALWAYS give us more than we can handle – just ask any mom – and espcailly any mom of multiples because this usually occurs every other minute. That is just what life is about. But learning to depend on Him, our friends and family, prayer and faith is the challenge. I personally think a clean house, completed laundry and a car without trash is completely overrated anyway.
There is nothing more humbling that being a mother of multiples – or just plain multiple children. It continues to be the biggest challenge of my life and is always more than I can handle on my own. Thanks for your post!
Thanks so much Karen. I really thought I had it together as a mom,but the twin pregnancy, and then raising the little stinkers continually brings me to my knees. It is humbling, and yet, also so awesome! I’m honored to be in this sorority of sorts.
Twitter: dakotapam
Thank you for this great post! My hubby did a wonderful sermon on this a number of years ago (http://lakecountylutheran.blogspot.com/2007/09/debunking-popular-myth.html?m=1) that I kept on my kitchen counter while my mother lost her battle to cancer AND our parsonage was invaded with fleas, the basement flooded, the AC broke, the car battery died . . . and I can’t remember what else. I look back at that season of my life knowing I could have never done it alone.
Twitter: Raggedysue
WOW! That is a powerful sermon. And yes, when you are in the pits, the last thing you want to hear is how strong you are. Because, let’s face it, when I’m in the pits I am not strong, or brave, or tough. I’m super weak.
Dakotapam recently posted..From Inspiration to Pressing Publish
Twitter: dakotapam
God doesn’t give us more than we can handle, but enough already! Kind of how I feel some days right now. Talked about our current handful a bit here http://www.themeaningofme.com/how-i-spent-my-summer-vacation/. Hub and I worked at the same place for eleven years and then his position was eliminated. I have to return to the same place every day and wow, is it difficult to say the very least. Handling it one day at a time with a lot of prayer. Let you know how we come through it once we ge tto the other side.
The Meaning of Me recently posted..Still The One
That is tough! I will keep your family in prayer!
Twitter: dakotapam
Thank you, Pam.
Better day today!
The Meaning of Me recently posted..Here We Go Again…
I’m so glad!
Twitter: dakotapam
I look back at that season of my life knowing I could have never done it alone.I have to return to the same place every day and wow, is it difficult to say the very least. Handling it one day at a time with a lot of prayer.
God really does not give us more than what we can handle. If you read 1 corinthians 10:13 you’ll see that God only gives us what we can handle.