In times of adversity and hardship, we often turn to faith for comfort and guidance. The phrase “God will never give you more than you can handle” has become a popular mantra, offering solace to those facing challenges. However, a closer examination of biblical teachings reveals that this phrase is not only a misinterpretation but is also unbiblical.
I heard this concept preached numerous times as a child. But I always questioned it. As I got older and learned more about just how wicked this world is, I learned that my pastors and church leaders were wrong. Suffering can be far more than just overwhelming. It can truly break a person. And more often than not, it does.
God giving people more than they can handle is certainly no novel idea; in fact, there are examples in Scripture. We should be looking to these examples rather than trying to customize God into a cookie cutter. Saying that God will never make someone suffer more than they could bear is not just wrong, it is a lie. It is denial. The God of the Bible is not Mr. Nice Guy, he is a monster at times. There is no use in denying the clear-cut evidence.
Misconception #1: Misquoting 1 Corinthians 10:13
One of the primary sources of this saying is a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states, “No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear” (CJB).
While this verse acknowledges that God provides a way out of temptation, it does not suggest that God will shield us from all challenges or trials. Temptation and trials are distinct concepts, and conflating them leads to a fundamental misunderstanding of the message. Reading the verse as it is written is not rocket science. Knowing how to differentiate “temptation” and “suffering” does not require a perfect IQ. It requires common sense, which is not included in pastoral training.
Misconception #2: Ignoring Biblical Examples of Overwhelming Trials
Throughout the Bible, numerous figures faced trials and tribulations that seemed insurmountable. Job, for instance, endured the loss of his wealth, health, and family, encountering suffering far beyond what any person could handle alone. Yet, the story of Job is one of resilience and unwavering faith in God.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul faced immense challenges, including persecution, imprisonment, and physical ailments. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul explicitly acknowledges being burdened beyond his ability to endure, emphasizing that his reliance was on God’s power, not his own strength.
Furthermore, to use one of the darkest stories in the entire Bible, we will go to the book of Judges. Judges 19 is a passage you will never hear in the church. As the business of the church thrives on customer satisfaction (attendees leaving with a spiritual high and good feelings), preaching from Judges 19 would equate to giving away the Coca-Cola recipe or Colonel Sanders 11 herbs and spices. It would send the weekly tithes down the drain. And no pastor wants that!
Judges 19 tells a morbid tale of rape and murder. An unnamed Levite takes his concubine and travels to the “House of Adonai.” Night falls, and the couple find an old man working in his field. Some evil men come to the house, demanding the Levite come out so they can have sex with him. The old man offers his virgin daughter and the Levite’s concubine to the men. He even tells them, “Mistreat them, do what you want to them, but don’t do such a degrading thing to this man.” The mob takes the concubine and rapes and abuses her all night long. At dawn, she crawls to the doorstep. When the Levite sees her, he asks her to get up. But she dies.
As if the story is not graphic enough, it concludes with the Levite cutting his wife’s corpse into twelve pieces and sending on piece to each tribe of Israel.
And pastors want to say God will never give you more than you can handle?
True Biblical Perspective
The God of the Bible does not measure how much suffering one can endure and choose carefully. The Bible shows that, in many areas, he does not care. The God of the Bible, especially the God of Job and Judges, is severely amoral, if not immoral. The God of the Prophets is the instigator of suffering.
The intention behind saying “God will never give you more than you can handle” is probably well-meaning. But, it is a lie. It promotes denial. It promotes a sense that suffering is not a problem when, in fact, it is a huge problem! Instead of lying to congregants and portraying God as some kind of protector imaginary friend, can we address the real problems in this world? Can we acknowledge that blowing immense suffering off as “in God’s hands” is causing more harm than good?
Conclusion
The notion that “God will never give you more than you can handle” is a well-intentioned but misguided interpretation of biblical principles. Instead of promising a life free from overwhelming challenges, the Bible acknowledges the omnipresence of suffering in our world. It acknowledges that God is not always present in our suffering. It is not easy to believe this. The church, throughout history, has thrived on pleasing its members and guilting its critics.
To please congregants, the church has created a God that is inconsistent with the God of the Bible. While he may be a God of grace, he is also a God of vengeance. He is a God who inflicts suffering on humanity. We need to acknowledge that the God of the Bible is not a God who looks out for us every second and hour. He is not always a monster, either.