Since this week is Thanksgiving week, I thought I would write on a myth that you may face this week. Some of us are going to be in family situations which are very difficult and stressful. Others of us are facing a Thanksgiving without a loved one for the first time. Or maybe, we are in a circumstances this year which is very dire.
Often in these situations, we say, "God will not give me more than I can handle". This idea is most likely a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." If we read closely, it does not say "God will not give us more than we can handle." It actually says that when we are tempted, God will provide a way of escaping the temptation. Our ability mentioned here is referring to Christ in us.
God does allow us to sometimes experience more than we can handle because He loves us, not because He's mad at us. He knows that our inability to handle life circumstances will often lead us to spiritual brokenness. In this brokenness, He can reveal Christ in us as our very Life. Romans 8:13 speaks of spiritual brokenness this way. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die". Death here is a reference to us coming to the end of our own self-sufficient way of trying to handle our lives.
Paul wrote of his own brokenness in Romans 7:23-24 saying, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul finally realized he did not need a "how to", he needed a "Who to" - Jesus Christ in him!
So, whether you are headed to a joyous Thanksgiving or a challenging one, turn to Jesus in you and ask Him to handle each relationship and situation.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
Often in these situations, we say, "God will not give me more than I can handle". This idea is most likely a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." If we read closely, it does not say "God will not give us more than we can handle." It actually says that when we are tempted, God will provide a way of escaping the temptation. Our ability mentioned here is referring to Christ in us.
God does allow us to sometimes experience more than we can handle because He loves us, not because He's mad at us. He knows that our inability to handle life circumstances will often lead us to spiritual brokenness. In this brokenness, He can reveal Christ in us as our very Life. Romans 8:13 speaks of spiritual brokenness this way. "If you are living according to the flesh, you must die". Death here is a reference to us coming to the end of our own self-sufficient way of trying to handle our lives.
Paul wrote of his own brokenness in Romans 7:23-24 saying, "Wretched man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Paul finally realized he did not need a "how to", he needed a "Who to" - Jesus Christ in him!
So, whether you are headed to a joyous Thanksgiving or a challenging one, turn to Jesus in you and ask Him to handle each relationship and situation.
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
