Later, I opened up the blogs I keep up with and was scanning the most recent ones. I came across one called, "God Will Not Give You More Than You Can Handle." DING! I was pumped- this was going to be the little spiritual boost I needed. I opened it up and started reading. Then.....I realized the entire post was contradicting the saying. Oh joy. Just what I wanted to read.
However, the words brought me more hope and peace than any "feel good" message could have. As nice as this saying sounds, it isn't biblical in the least. Paul did have more than he could handle. The thorn in his flesh consumed him and he begged God to take it away because of his agony. After reading the entire post, I started thinking of things that I can "handle."
I can handle brushing my teeth. I can handle driving my car. I can handle working out. I can handle doing laundry. I can handle studying for a test. I can handle paying taxes.
Then I thought of some things that I need to survive. I need my sinoatrial node to tell my heart to beat. I need the earth to spin on it's axis. I need the atmosphere to protect me from the sun. I need North Korea not to bomb us. I need photosynthesis to happen. I need the huge trees in my yard not to fall on my house.
Isn't it interesting how the things I need for survival, aren't on my list of things I can handle? I can do nothing of importance, really. I am such a control freak and multi-tasker, but when it comes down to the essentials, I am helpless.
I can't even keep myself alive.
God does give us more than we can handle. He wants us to realize that without Him, we can't even take care of our own survival. If God never gave me more than I can handle, what reason would I have to trust Him? So right now as I try to muddle through the emotional and physical strain of this life's troubles, my only choice is to believe He has it all taken care of. I feel like I write about this struggle consistently. It really is difficult for me to do. Praise God that I don't have to carry my own troubles without any help. I know they would crush my soul. I am reminded of this passage from Hosea as I cope with the lesson that it was God's idea to lead me to this place of struggle.
"Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.....Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth."
I have more than I can handle, but I have found joy because I don't have to handle it anyways. My Creator and Savior has my little life in the palm of His hand. I am estranged from the comfort of the high places, but He is with me in the valley.
