God Will Never Give Us More Than We Can Handle

Many use some version of the statement “God Will Never Give Us More Than We Can Handle” as a way to comfort and strengthen those going through tough times. While this is a nice sentiment, it can be misleading in that it implies God has given us hardships in the first place. So, does God give us hardships? No, but He does allow them.

Temptations

In the context of Scripture, temptations can be defined as the intentional enticement to disobey God’s Word and challenges one's fidelity to God. God will never do that to us. Temptations are of the world or of Satan, not of God. Temptation, in and of itself, is not a sin. Giving in to temptation is.

Jesus was tempted by Satan three times; Matthew 4:1-11.

James 1:14; “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.”

1 Corinthians 10:13; “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

With every temptation we encounter, God will remain faithful to us. He will provide a way to endure and escape. We do not have to give in to sin.

James 1:2-4; My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Troubles/Hardships

God does not give us troubles. He is the giver of life and the source of love and blessing. However, life (the world) will give us troubles and people can find themselves crying out “I can’t handle this.”
Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, humanity has had troubles - sickness, tragedy, violence, etc. Jesus tells us trouble is part of living in this world and He is the remedy, not the source.

John 16:33; “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Paul reassures us Jesus is the remedy for troubles:

Acts 10:38; “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Paul and his companions endured many trials.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9; “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”

It seems Paul believed, for a time, he was being tested beyond what he could bear. However, he recognized he needed to trust in God to get them through it, not in himself. Paul continues to praise the Lord for deliverance in verse 10; “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

We can endure and overcome anything that comes our way - temptations, tragedy, etc. - by turning to God and trusting His power. We can achieve spiritual victory, through Jesus Christ. Life can be hard at times and we often need a way to escape. We can endure hard times with confidence in God’s gracious promises.

Romans 8:38-39; ”For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Why does God allow Temptations, Troubles and Hardships?

Free Will: God gave us the free will to choose how we live our lives. If we choose to live in sin it can, and usually does, lead to suffering.
Spiritual Growth: Suffering can strengthen our spirit and our desire to keep our focus on God.