Many of us have heard it. Somebody is be going through a really difficult situation and a well-intentioned friend may say something like, “I’m really sorry, but, you know, God will never give you more than you can handle“. Is that really true? Will God actually never give us more than we can handle? Some may say yes, but I disagree. I believe that God does in fact give His children more than they can handle. Think about it. Do you believe that losing a loved-one is not more than one can handle? How about losing multiple family members or your whole family? What about being tortured for your faith in Christ? Are these not more than one can handle?

Think of Gideon. He was not brave, in fact, he was very fearful and he needed signs in order to be sure that God would actually do as He had already told him (Judges 6:36-40). Gideon was called to do something that he saw himself as inadequate for, but let’s read further in the story. The Lord answered Gideon’s requests for two signs and now he and his men have moved closer to the Midiantites, getting ready for battle. “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me” (Judges 7:2, KJV). The Midianites already far outnumbered Gideon’s men, and, yet, God knew that there were still too many in this comparatively small army. So, God dwindled the army down to only 300 men, and God won the battle. That is just the point, He won the battle. Gideon didn’t win it, his men didn’t, the Lord did. For the battle is His (2 Chr. 2:15).

I would even dare to say that this thought, that God will never give you more than you can handle, is a dangerous one. Often, God gives, those of us who are His children, circumstances and situations that we cannot handle . . . without Him. That’s the key. Listen to Paul’s words, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13). Paul knows where and to Whom the glory belongs, and that is Christ. Yes, God may give you more than you can handle, but it will never be more He can. We must be reminded to lean on Christ in all situations and not be prideful in thinking that we can handle anything without Him. That is the danger, becoming prideful and feeling that we do not really need God for everything in life.

Annie Hawks wrote it so sweetly and simply in the hymn “I Need Thee Every Hour”.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.