For as long as I can remember, I've heard, "God won't give you more than you can bear." I think this may be the greatest misconception, the most misquoted scripture in the Bible. It's taken from 1 Corinthians 10:13, but it says ". . . he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." It says nothing about daily struggles and crises. Facing sin and overcoming temptation is different than coping with life's heartbreaks.
There have been many times that God has given me more than I can bear. And working with hospice, I am continually aware of patients and families who have more than they can bear. They face a raging storm that they can't withstand alone.
What about the lady who is caring for her mother with end-stage Alzheimer's and finds out her husband has a glioblastoma, an aggressive, malignant brain tumor? Or the man whose son is dying of leukemia just months after his wife was killed in a car wreck? Do you think they feel they have been given more than they can bear? Single moms, bankrupted businessmen, broken marriages . . . more than they can bear? I think so.
Thankfully, I've got some good news. God never intended us to bear our stress, our problems, our heartbreaks. David understood this as he wrote, "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:10. Jesus, himself, implores us to give him our worries. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:29-30.
My prayer isn't for strength to make it through the trial but
strength to give it to God and trust him to handle things for me. Isn't that what a loving father does?
Whatever you are facing today, I encourage you to trust God. Don't waste your energy trying to muster enough strength to face your crisis alone. Give it to your Father. Let him carry your burden . . . let him carry you.
Before long, you will discover that He has carried you through the storm. He will give you rest. He will give you peace. He will give you joy. Soon you will find that you are free . . . free of your burden, free from the pain. Free to dance and enjoy His presence.
