At the most unexpected of times, life has a habit of taking a hammer to our nice little routine. Our comfortable world is broken by heartbreak or illness or tragedy. At other times, the burden of responsibility threatens to overwhelm us with stress and fatigue. In our prison ministries, we work with people who are facing trials and overwhelming circumstances. Often, people try to encourage others by saying, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Is this statement consistent with Scripture? Will God give you more than you can handle?
Let’s discover the answer in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians.
A Servant Who Suffered
If any man understood suffering, it was Paul. He faced constant danger, weariness, hunger, need, thirst, pain, and the burden of all the churches. Read his words in 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:”
Paul states that they endured trials “above strength.” God allowed Paul and his fellow workers to face trials that were MORE than they could handle. Why did God do this? God wanted Paul to trust in divine strength instead of relying on human ability.
A Thorn in the Flesh
On another occasion, Paul faced a “thorn in the flesh.” When he begged God to remove it, the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”(2 Cor. 12:9) Paul accepted God’s decision with humility and rejoiced in God’s grace.
He stated, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
The Lord gave Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble. It would have been easy for the larger-than-life apostle to take pride in his calling, gifts, and achievements. To prevent this tragedy, God enrolled Paul in the school of suffering. Paul majored in Divine Grace with a minor in Humility.
Looking back through the centuries, I think we can all agree that Paul graduated summa cum laude. Relying on God’s grace, he lived a life of victory. His letters form the bulk of our New Testament, and his ministry impacted countless lives for Christ. His example challenges us to respond to suffering with godly maturity.
Our Response
When unexpected trials hit, how should we respond?
1. Accept that God does give us more than we can handle, and trust His wisdom.
2. Seek God for His all-sufficient grace.
3. Rely on that grace to obey God.
When God gives us trials, He also gives enough grace for our need. At our prison ministries, we are so thankful for God’s incredible grace. As we lean on His strength, we can go through trials with courage and peace.
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