This is not my normal grief stuff, but it still applies. Yes, I'm going "there." We often hear, from well-meaning christian brothers and sisters, the following phrase...hang in there, God won't put more on you than you can bear. Number one, that's a LIE. Number two it's not scriptural. We're going to take a look at that MISQUOTED scripture. Below is the scripture in context - in other words the verse before, the verse after, and that entire verse, not just what people want to pull out.
I Corinthians 10:12-14
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And 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 so that you can stand up under it.
14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
The middle of verse 13 is your misquote. "He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." Temptation is NOT pain. Temptation is NOT trouble. Temptation is NOT loss. Temptation is NOT trials. Temptation is NOT testing. What is temptation then? I'm glad you asked.
Webster defines temptation as the following... : a strong urge or desire to have or do something
: something that causes a strong urge or desire to have or do something and especially something that is bad, wrong, or unwise
Stay with me here. God wants us to rely fully on Him. Trust fully in Him. He wants us to seek Him, lean on Him, love Him. So, if that's what He wants us to do, how can we do those things if WE can handle everything? If we're trusting in our abilities, having faith in our abilities, seeking our abilities, leaning on our abilities, what exactly is God's purpose?
So, the next time someone tries to "comfort" you with that phrase, gently remind yourself (and perhaps them) that yes, God will put more on us than WE can bear because He wants to bear it for us but we must turn to Him.
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