Don’t you worry—God won’t give you more than you can handle.

Has anyone ever said this to you before? That God won’t give you more than you can handle? The phrase sounds nice, and the people who say it are usually well-meaning. But it’s really not all that helpful. We all go through seasons of life where we certainly feel like we’ve been given more than we can handle. Whether we’re living paycheck to paycheck and struggling to find work or our spouse or child is dealing with a troubling diagnosis, it can sometimes seem like God is not holding up His end of the bargain.

Is it true what these well-meaning believers say? Will God never give us more than we can handle?

The truth is that the phrase, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” is not found anywhere in Scripture. You won’t find a verse that even remotely says this. Instead, the Bible promises the complete opposite. Jesus told His disciples,

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33, ESV

We’re not promised an easy, stress-free life. On the contrary, we’re told that we’re going to have tribulation, we’re going to struggle, we’re going to have to wade through difficult situations and circumstances—even the strongest of Christians. The Apostle Paul once wrote,

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” 2 Corinthians 1:8

Whatever this affliction was that Paul experienced, He certainly felt like it was more that he could handle. Does this mean that God didn’t love Paul or care about what he was going through? Does this mean that God was somehow unable to prevent Paul from experiencing trials and tribulations? By no means! Paul went on to state the purpose of his affliction—

“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9

God does give us more than we can handle on our own because He wants us to rely on Him. We are not in control of what happens in our lives, nor do we have the strength to endure tribulation and suffering by ourselves. But we serve an omnipotent and sovereign God, and it is only by His strength that we able to handle and persevere through our circumstances. We are weak, but God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Author Jen Oshman writes,

“All the people who have ever walked the earth have sought to handle their own lives, their own circumstances, their own futures their own way. But God, in his mercy, gives us more than we can handle, that we may cry out to him, seek him, and find him.”^[1]

Instead of relying on ourselves to handle our problems, we ought to rely on God. After all, He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1), and our help comes from Him (Psalm 121:1-2). When we depend on God during times of testing, we are sanctified and made steadfast (James 1:2-4). Our character is strengthened, and we are filled with hope (Romans 5:3-4). And we are being prepared for a future of eternal glory—

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” 2 Corinthians 4:17

As we enter 2023, we’re likely going to face challenges that feel like more than we can handle. Things may seem to spiral out of control, and everything in our lives may appear to be falling apart. We may even wonder, “Why is God letting this happen? Why is He giving me more than I can handle?” In times like these, we must remember that God does give us more than we can handle. Why? So, that we will rely on Him and His strength.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

^[1] Jen Oshman, Enough About Me: Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self (Wheaton: Crossway, 2020), 67.