Good Morning,
I am new to this program and feel quite overwhelmed. I have panic attacks that are quite debilitating. I know God never gives us more then we can handle and just wonder how some of you cope and get through.
God never gives us more then we can handle
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Guest
Moonlight
Good Morning. I totally hear ya. What I have been doing is reading the Psalms again. I find so much comfort there. I also have been listening faithfully to my sessions and relaxation tape. Visting this thread, the Humor Thread and the Triumps thread. Just knowing that others have gone and are going thru this too is sooo reassuring.This place really is like one big extended family.. I am glad you are here
Good Morning. I totally hear ya. What I have been doing is reading the Psalms again. I find so much comfort there. I also have been listening faithfully to my sessions and relaxation tape. Visting this thread, the Humor Thread and the Triumps thread. Just knowing that others have gone and are going thru this too is sooo reassuring.This place really is like one big extended family.. I am glad you are here
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Guest
Hi,
I promise I'm not trying to attack anyone for having the perception that "God never gives us more than we can handle." I am about to get on my soap box with this, but I promise that I really want to have a healthy discussion about this phrase that is commonly used by Christians. For the original poster, please do not feel attacked by me in any way. You just came on here for comfort and support, and you admitted that you just feel overwhelmed and are doing your best to deal with your pain and keep you faith:). Please don't feel like I am attacking you in any way.
However, I just want to give my perception of why this belief system can be harmful for Christians, etc. This is just my opinion as a Christian. Also, before I get onto my soap box with this, I want to ask those of you who do have this belief system why it comforts you to think that God never gives you more than you can handle? I don't mean that in a sarcastic manner, but I am sincerely trying to understand. I am a Christian, and this belief system sends up all kind of alarm bells within me so I am trying to understand why it is comforting to certain people, honestly and truly:).
First of all, I believe this belief system comes from the scripture,1 Corinthians 10:12,13
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."(NIV)
My interpretation of the above scripture is that in our human existence, we are constantly presented with a choice of sinning or not sinning. We face constant temptations to sin, and our loving God is reminding us that every time we face a temptation, He gives us a way out. In addition, He reminds us that we will face no temptation that other humans haven't faced before and been given the opportunity not to sin. It is clearer in the NIV version that we should never get haughty and think that we have our acts together because then we would think that we had the power to overcome temptation in our own human strength. The strength to choose the right path among temptation to sin comes from God.
So, from my studies of this scripture, "temptation" does not refer to calamities and hardships that come from God that we are meant to "bear". The human existence is such that we face temptations because of original sin, and God never tempts people to sin, but offers us a way out of sin.
The second issue that I have with this belief system is that it assumes that all hardships that we face in life come directly from God. There are many reasons why human beings go through hardships, and in my personal opinion, God's not usually behind it. Yes, He's all sovereign, but He gives us free will. Sin exists in this world, and sometimes we suffer because of our own sin or other people's sin, it is an imperfect world. When Jesus walked this earth, a lot of people kept questioning why people faced hardships, and basically he said we live in a fallen world and to stop trying to blame it on a specific source other than that. When everyone was asking him about a person that was disabled, they were sure that it was because of the parents' sin, and he said, "it's no one's fault", and that God would use the person for "His Glory." That's what God offers all of us who are suffering. We had a friend die from cancer last month. She was a great person, who had strong faith. I'm not going to use my human mind to try to figure out why she wasn't healed. I'm not going to assume that God is the reason she died either, but He did take her lovingly in His arms in the end. I can promise you that she and her family were given more than they could handle, and they had to turn to God for His strength to even cope. They had a lot of bad days, and are still having bad days as they grieve the loss of their wonderful family member.
That's the other issue I have. When we say, "God never gives us more than we can handle" it's almost like saying that when we face a tragedy or loss and feel grief, that we are somehow sinning, and that we should rely on our own strength to get through the suffering. One day, I was having a conversation with someone about this, and in my heart, I feel that God pointed me toward the following scripture. II Corinthians 1:8-10, "We do not want you to be
uninformed, brothers, about the hardships (thilipsis) we suffered in the
province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to
endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the
sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but
on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to
deliver us, as you help us with your prayers."
To me, that scripture sums it up. All of us face suffering at some time in our lives. Some of us face great tragedies, and we can't bear them in our human strength. Therefore, our loving God gives us His strength to face the insurmountable. It also doesn't mean that we aren't going to feel pain. Scripture says that when we are Christians, we are still to grieve, but not as those who have no hope. That hope is both for this lifetime and for the next. However, it's healthy to grieve and admit the truth of our pain. I do not believe that those tragedies come directly from a loving God. However, I do believe in the promise, "All things work together for good, to those who love Christ Jesus." This scripture doesn't say that all things are good. It isn't good that my son has an incurable brain disorder. I don't believe that God gave my son severe autism. At my worst, I can promise you that I couldn't handle watching my son lose the ability to speak and have pretend play, and I went through so much suffering and a number of other disasters at the same time, that it literally almost killed me. I can't handle it on my best days. I will never say that I haven't been given more than I can handle in life, because that would be a lie. However, because of merciful and loving God, I am able to see God use these calamities for good even though He wasn't the one responsible for them. That's a nice insurance policy:).
I also found this website in looking up scripture references that I think is good and explains the matter more in depth.
http://groups.google.com/group...ead/1024e2225dd77bff
Take care,
luvpiggy
I promise I'm not trying to attack anyone for having the perception that "God never gives us more than we can handle." I am about to get on my soap box with this, but I promise that I really want to have a healthy discussion about this phrase that is commonly used by Christians. For the original poster, please do not feel attacked by me in any way. You just came on here for comfort and support, and you admitted that you just feel overwhelmed and are doing your best to deal with your pain and keep you faith:). Please don't feel like I am attacking you in any way.
However, I just want to give my perception of why this belief system can be harmful for Christians, etc. This is just my opinion as a Christian. Also, before I get onto my soap box with this, I want to ask those of you who do have this belief system why it comforts you to think that God never gives you more than you can handle? I don't mean that in a sarcastic manner, but I am sincerely trying to understand. I am a Christian, and this belief system sends up all kind of alarm bells within me so I am trying to understand why it is comforting to certain people, honestly and truly:).
First of all, I believe this belief system comes from the scripture,1 Corinthians 10:12,13
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."(NIV)
My interpretation of the above scripture is that in our human existence, we are constantly presented with a choice of sinning or not sinning. We face constant temptations to sin, and our loving God is reminding us that every time we face a temptation, He gives us a way out. In addition, He reminds us that we will face no temptation that other humans haven't faced before and been given the opportunity not to sin. It is clearer in the NIV version that we should never get haughty and think that we have our acts together because then we would think that we had the power to overcome temptation in our own human strength. The strength to choose the right path among temptation to sin comes from God.
So, from my studies of this scripture, "temptation" does not refer to calamities and hardships that come from God that we are meant to "bear". The human existence is such that we face temptations because of original sin, and God never tempts people to sin, but offers us a way out of sin.
The second issue that I have with this belief system is that it assumes that all hardships that we face in life come directly from God. There are many reasons why human beings go through hardships, and in my personal opinion, God's not usually behind it. Yes, He's all sovereign, but He gives us free will. Sin exists in this world, and sometimes we suffer because of our own sin or other people's sin, it is an imperfect world. When Jesus walked this earth, a lot of people kept questioning why people faced hardships, and basically he said we live in a fallen world and to stop trying to blame it on a specific source other than that. When everyone was asking him about a person that was disabled, they were sure that it was because of the parents' sin, and he said, "it's no one's fault", and that God would use the person for "His Glory." That's what God offers all of us who are suffering. We had a friend die from cancer last month. She was a great person, who had strong faith. I'm not going to use my human mind to try to figure out why she wasn't healed. I'm not going to assume that God is the reason she died either, but He did take her lovingly in His arms in the end. I can promise you that she and her family were given more than they could handle, and they had to turn to God for His strength to even cope. They had a lot of bad days, and are still having bad days as they grieve the loss of their wonderful family member.
That's the other issue I have. When we say, "God never gives us more than we can handle" it's almost like saying that when we face a tragedy or loss and feel grief, that we are somehow sinning, and that we should rely on our own strength to get through the suffering. One day, I was having a conversation with someone about this, and in my heart, I feel that God pointed me toward the following scripture. II Corinthians 1:8-10, "We do not want you to be
uninformed, brothers, about the hardships (thilipsis) we suffered in the
province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to
endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the
sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but
on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to
deliver us, as you help us with your prayers."
To me, that scripture sums it up. All of us face suffering at some time in our lives. Some of us face great tragedies, and we can't bear them in our human strength. Therefore, our loving God gives us His strength to face the insurmountable. It also doesn't mean that we aren't going to feel pain. Scripture says that when we are Christians, we are still to grieve, but not as those who have no hope. That hope is both for this lifetime and for the next. However, it's healthy to grieve and admit the truth of our pain. I do not believe that those tragedies come directly from a loving God. However, I do believe in the promise, "All things work together for good, to those who love Christ Jesus." This scripture doesn't say that all things are good. It isn't good that my son has an incurable brain disorder. I don't believe that God gave my son severe autism. At my worst, I can promise you that I couldn't handle watching my son lose the ability to speak and have pretend play, and I went through so much suffering and a number of other disasters at the same time, that it literally almost killed me. I can't handle it on my best days. I will never say that I haven't been given more than I can handle in life, because that would be a lie. However, because of merciful and loving God, I am able to see God use these calamities for good even though He wasn't the one responsible for them. That's a nice insurance policy:).
I also found this website in looking up scripture references that I think is good and explains the matter more in depth.
http://groups.google.com/group...ead/1024e2225dd77bff
Take care,
luvpiggy
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Paisleegreen
- Posts: 1778
- Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:27 pm
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Guest
Luv
you have given me alot to chew on. Thanks! I like my mind challenged.
To me that phrase as flawed as it is has always meant that God wouldn't allow this to happen had he not had a purpose in mind to grow you or glorify him in it, and he will help you thru it and you won't die in the end. Thus meaning that you are able to "handle it". We always find ourselves thinking we are soo weak and cant do much. But I take it to mean that God strengthens us right when we need it. I never took it to mean that the struggle or challenge was going to be "easy" but that with Him it's a Can do and not a defeat.
I wish I could spend some more time on this , I gotta scoot out to work.
Thanks again for this topic. I appreciate your sharing
Jill
you have given me alot to chew on. Thanks! I like my mind challenged.
To me that phrase as flawed as it is has always meant that God wouldn't allow this to happen had he not had a purpose in mind to grow you or glorify him in it, and he will help you thru it and you won't die in the end. Thus meaning that you are able to "handle it". We always find ourselves thinking we are soo weak and cant do much. But I take it to mean that God strengthens us right when we need it. I never took it to mean that the struggle or challenge was going to be "easy" but that with Him it's a Can do and not a defeat.
I wish I could spend some more time on this , I gotta scoot out to work.
Thanks again for this topic. I appreciate your sharing
Jill
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Guest
As a Christian i know that there is godd and evil existant in the world. My Savior, Jesus represents the goodness in the world. Gospel means "Good News". Even Jesus while he was on earth was not spared from suffering. He sweat blood for us! He willingly laid down his life for us. He sent his Holy Spirit to us to guide us. I believe this program was His leading for my healing. Prayer and insisting that the "bad" that was happening to me yesterday during a panic attack quickly disappeared when I evoked my faith in the shed Blood of Christ for me. I know there are people who do not follow this path in their spiritual life. There are many paths to find the ultimate Creator and meaning of life. Just ask for Him to show you the true path. It is when I have been sick and incapacitated that I have seen the real love of God. That's when I grow in wisdom - when I'm in the valley. What I am experiencing now is just another level of maturity in christ that I need to learn. Thank you for indulging me and letting me share. I hope it gives peace to someone else.
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Guest
LuvPiggy, I AGREE!!!! There have been times that I was given more than I could handle..That is when I had to give it to God..amen!
I don't believe "God will never give you more than you can handle"...if that were the case, there wouldn't be faith!
He gives us, what he gives us for testing of faith and drawing us closer to him! Hence, why I joined this program...IT WAS MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE..IN MY OWN STRENGTH!
Thanks for clarifying these things, as that statement is so far from the TRUTH
I admit using that statement earlier in my posts, but after two years, I know differently..THANKYOU JESUS!
Blessings,
In His name,
Robin
I don't believe "God will never give you more than you can handle"...if that were the case, there wouldn't be faith!
He gives us, what he gives us for testing of faith and drawing us closer to him! Hence, why I joined this program...IT WAS MORE THAN I COULD HANDLE..IN MY OWN STRENGTH!
Thanks for clarifying these things, as that statement is so far from the TRUTH
I admit using that statement earlier in my posts, but after two years, I know differently..THANKYOU JESUS!
Blessings,
In His name,
Robin
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Guest
I think the worst thing about that statement is that it is a pat answer and most people don't like hearing answers that seem meaningless when they are hurting.. ...But on the other hand, can you say in all honesty that you went thru things that you couldn't handle with the Lord? I thought my mother dying when I was 18 was too much and I wanted to die, I thought losing my baby at 2 months along was too much and I wanted to die, I thought that having clinical depression and major health problems coming into my life I wanted to die. Yet here I am many many years later and it seems apparently I was able to handle more than I thought. With the Lords help of course. I think that's what is meant when people say that. But I do see the confusion of it and it has challenged me to not use it anymore because it does seem unrealistic when one is hurting so much. It's better just to lend and ear and a shoulder and pray for strength for those who hurt.
Thanks for bringing up this topic.
Jill
Thanks for bringing up this topic.
Jill
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Guest
Good discussion!
I think the meat of that saying is telling us that we WILL survive; we WILL get THROUGH the trials in life. It is a comforting saying to me most of the time because I know that whatever life throws at me, God must have already approved it and knows WE can get through it.
Life is hard. period. The cliche sayings can be cheesy, but millions of people must say them for a reason
I think the meat of that saying is telling us that we WILL survive; we WILL get THROUGH the trials in life. It is a comforting saying to me most of the time because I know that whatever life throws at me, God must have already approved it and knows WE can get through it.
Life is hard. period. The cliche sayings can be cheesy, but millions of people must say them for a reason
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Guest
Thank you to all who replied to my start of this forum. I never knew you were all out there. I am remembering to lean on God for help, rather than trying to "help" myself . So sorry to say I am struggling; can we pray for each other? The attack against me right now must mean I can to great things if I overcome this. . . never expected the intensity! Please responed.