I posted a while back concerning the adage, "God will never give us more than we can handle."
You may recall I disagree with that. Well, I've been reminded of it recently, and there are just a couple thoughts I'd like to add.
I believe there's a John Wayne/Clint Eastwood (Does a contemporary equivalent even exist? The Donald, maybe??) spirit that says, "I love a man who bites off more than he can chew -- and then chews it." We naturally tend to admire the guy who, in true, Frank Sinatra fashion, "did it MY way."
And, let's face it; that IS "religion." But it really isn't Biblical Christianity.
Biblical Christianity is "NOT I, but CHRIST" (Galatians 2:20). It is "I labored more abundantly than they all; yet NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME" (I Corinthians 15:10). It is our dear Lord affirming to us, "for without, Me, ye can do NOTHING" (John 15:5), and, "for MY STRENGTH is made perfect in (YOUR) WEAKNESS" (II Corinthians 12:9).
It is a man coming to the point of utter despair in his own ability and strength, and, out of that despair, grasping hold of the unfailing life preserver of God's provision in Christ (Romans 7:24-25a; II Corinthians 1:8-10).
I've heard Grace defined as: "God doing for me what I CANNOT DO for myself."
A sure hindrance to availing myself of that LIFE Preserver, then, is the proud inability to admit that I'm drowning. The rugged individualist who steadfastly refuses to say, "I can't!" (There's the Duke and Clint and ol' Blue Eyes poking their heads out again!)
Because as long as we won't accept that we can't, we'll never reach out and latch on to His, "but I WILL!"
Consequently, the ready quip, "God won't give you more than you can handle" is not only not the most helpful thing to say to someone who is overwhelmed by life.
It can be a huge, impregnable roadblock to our healthy appropriation of the Grace of God.