That's NOT In The BibleSýnishorn

“God will never give you more than you can bear”

The premise of this particular saying suggests that a God who loves us would never push us past the breaking point. The reality of Scripture, however, is that He does precisely that in an effort to force us toward true faith and submission.

The burdens we’re saddled with and, moreover, how we choose to bear them speak volumes of our faith in and commitment to trusting Christ. The Lord reminded Paul of this when He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) There is no indication here, or anywhere else in Scripture, that our troubles and burdens have a cutoff point. (We should only be so lucky!)

So then what are we to do when life’s burdens are more than we can handle? Jesus instructs us to come to Him for rest from life’s burdens – both physical and spiritual. (Matthew 11:28) As true Christ-followers, we are called to bear each other’s burdens in times of struggle. (Galatians 6:2) And the Psalmist reminds us that when the burdens of life become too much for us, to cast them on the Lord and that He will see us through. (Psalm 55:22)

The common thread of these three verses is the idea that no man is expected – by God or anyone else – to bear it all alone. Remember, too, that in all our trials and temptations, God never said he wouldn’t give us more than we could handle – only that if we trusted in Him, He would show us the way through it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) Thanks be to God, too, that Jesus has already overcome all the troubles this world has to offer. (John 16:33)

Thus the saying should go, “The world will give you more than you can bear, but God will help you bear it if you’ll only trust in Him.”