Does the Bible really say that God won’t give us more than we can handle? I’m sure we’ve all heard this at one point or another. It seems to be a phrase people love to hand around to their friends experiencing hard times.
It’s not very helpful, and no, it’s not in the Bible. Not exactly, anyway. It stems from 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so you can endure it.”
In this verse Paul isn’t talking about suffering; he’s talking about temptation. Two very different things. Because we have free will and the ability to choose, when we are tempted, we have the choice to choose one way or another. Because we are born into a sinful world we will inevitably fall at times.
But even though it’s not in the Bible, is saying that God won’t give us more than we can handle really a bad thing? Surely it might be comforting to someone going through a hard time.
Maybe, but it can do more harm than good. Here’s why:
Firstly, people often struggle with things that are far more than they can handle. Even Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:8 says, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.” People often face things beyond their ability to endure, and many people break under the weight of despair.
If someone thinks they should be able to endure something they’re struggling with, it can make them feel guilty for not being able to handle it on their own and cause them to not reach out for support when they should. We can’t always rely on our own strength and should not feel ashamed to ask for help. The Psalms say that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (46:1). One of the ways God helps us is through other people, sent into our lives to comfort, support and encourage us. We need Jesus and we need community (sometimes we even need therapy).
But beyond this, God does not “give” us struggles. He is not vindictive, waiting to see what terrible things He can make you endure. Bad things happen because we live in a world ruled by powers other than God’s goodness. God can use bad things for good, yes—Romans 8:28 says “in all things God works for the good of those who love him”. But He does not inflict trials purposely upon us. He wants to give us good gifts (Matthew 7:11) because He is love (1 John 4:8).
So while it may seem like a comforting thing to say in times of grief, let’s only use this phrase in terms of temptation, because when someone is suffering, what they really need to know is that you love them and are there to support them and that God also loves them and will be with them through whatever they go through.
Ashley Jankiewicz is an assistant editor for Adventist Record.
