I had a friend ask the question, "Is the common saying 'God will not give you more than you can handle' a Biblical statement?" I thought I would share what I wrote to her, so my response is below:
Here are some thoughts related to the question you posed. I think
we are given more than we can handle by ourselves everyday. From a very
practical standpoint, we enlist the services of physicians, attorneys,
counselors, accountants, engineers, plumbers, electricians, IT people,
designers, etc. because we do not have expertise in all of those areas
and cannot possibly do everything alone. There is nothing wrong
with not being able to handle something ourself. We are built for
community and to lean on each other and the Lord for strength. Seeking
help is not wimpiness, it is wisdom. I am still actively learning this.
Many
people commonly rephrase/misquote another area in the Bible by saying,
"when I am weak, then He is strong," but that is not what the Scripture
says. Instead it says "For when I am weak, then I am strong." He
doesn't become stronger in my weakness (He is already strong), but it is
in my weakness that I can acknowledge His strength, and I am able to
more fully appreciate the depths of His love, mercy, and grace.
On
a personal note, the Lord has been showing me more and more of my own
weakness, both physically and emotionally, over the past 8+ months--this
has been quite a journey. Last month during a very low moment where I
was feeling frustrated with the pain and weakness in my leg and the
emotions that went with it, my physical therapist said to me, "You are
strong." Then my trainer said the same thing to me shortly thereafter.
They were seeing strength in me that I certainly did not see or feel.
So I hope it encourages you to know that even when you feel weak, others
see the strength you carry because you are filled with the power of the
Holy Spirit.
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I
am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
