God will (never?) OFTEN (!!) give us more than we can handle

Disclaimer: (Gulp) I really don’t want to share this. I (almost) understand how pastors and ministers feel when they have to share something really tough.

But, I believe this is a foundational issue I’ve never heard explained quite this way.

Here’s the deal.

It’s my opinion that God will give us more than we can handle.

Perhaps often.

There may be a lot of good reasons. Usually, we won’t understand for months or years. Or we may never understand in this life. That’s where faith comes in (Prov. 3:5).

Please be careful, prayerful, humble, and use the utmost discretion when sharing this with those currently overwhelmed and hurting. We don’t sit on the Throne of Heaven, and we likely will not know God’s specific purpose(s) for what they’re going through. Remember, too, what we’ve already been through, or consider what may be just around the corner for us.

Let’s jump right in. I’ll share these; maybe you can respond back and share more.

1. Salvation. Admit it; when everything’s going fine we rarely think too much about God, about seeking Him or needing His salvation. It’s been said that before a person can get “saved” (a Biblical term; for example, 1 Tim 2:4), he or she must first realize that they are lost. Like a drug addict or alcoholic, many of us (!) had to hit “rock bottom” before we would to God for His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Maybe even from pride!
   
   
2. Sanctification. Divine intervention rescued Lot and his family from Sodom before God destroyed it for its wickedness. Although they got out of Sodom, Sodom was not “out” of them! Lot’s wife hesitated and looked back. His daughters? Well…not so good (Gen 19, starting with verse 30).

• God’s goal for our lives is so much more than getting us out of hell and into heaven. The Creator wants fellowship with his creation. But if all we’re about is to earn more, get more stuff, and focus on I-me-my-mine? Well, sometimes He has to turn up the heat. Get our attention. Kick some idols out of our lives.
•  One word for this is discipline. The Bible says that He disciplines those He loves for our good. And if we do not experience His discipline, then we are not His (1 Cor 11:32; Hebrews 12: 6 – 9).

3. Bearing much fruit. In John 15, Jesus shared with His eleven disciples (Judas had already left to betray him) as they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane. They walked through a vineyard, and Jesus explained to them one final, poignant parable. He is the vine; we’re the branches. As we abide in Him, we will bear fruit. As the Father prunes us, we’ll bear more fruit. If we continue to abide, and the Father continues to prune, we’ll bear much fruit. Pruning? It may involve giving us more than we can handle—to draw us closer to Him.

4. Constant dependency. Are you starting to see a picture develop? Occasionally (often?) we’re overwhelmed, to draw us away from things that don’t count, to that which does (1 John 2:15). First, for salvation. Then, to draw us from sin, wrong attitudes, pride, and similar worldly “fluff” so we might learn to seek what really matters; a growing relationship with God and a desire to know Him. Maybe we start giving up some stuff that He knows is not all that great for us. And then? Think of it like this:

       – Step one, getting us out of the world.
        – Step two, getting the world out of us!
        – Step three? Getting more and more of the Holy Spirt into us. Unfortunately, it’s a continuing process.

5. Preparation. Why? Because there’s a purpose. The Bible is full of examples. Moses was overwhelmed. Job. Joseph. Naomi. David. Gideon. Paul. Many others. They were placed in impossible circumstances, with no earthly hope. God clearly “gave” them far more than they could handle. But God showed up. He worked in, with, and through those people. He then used them to accomplish far more than they could have possibly imagined! For His own purpose and glory.
   
   
6. Growth? Blessing? Others?  Apostle Paul said he learned that when he was weak (overwhelmed; given more than he could handle), that he was strong (dependent on God’s strength and supply for his needs, and to accomplish what was impossible in his own strength).  What about the growth and ultimate blessings of Job, Joseph, Naomi, David, and Gideon?

So again, God may indeed give us more than we can handle.  Confession time?  I often feel that.  I have for years. Maybe there’s hope for me as well?

Application if (when!) you feel overwhelmed? Here are some basics (click on links FMI):

If you’re not a Christian, the hope is that you will become one.  A good place to start is to is to watch this short “Gotta Minute?” video I produced HERE. Next, read the Gospel of John, asking God to reveal Himself and His truth to you.  Another great resource?  1-888-Need-Him; or visit NeedHim.org.

If you are a Christian?  Ask God what His purpose is, and how you can humbly work with Him to accomplish that purpose (God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble).  We may have tribulation.  But Christ promised to be with us and that He would never forsake us.  And many more precious promises to memorize and meditate on.

Let me close this out with an extensive–and incredibly timely–quote from the 2/20/17 (the day before my original post!) “Today’s Turning Point” devotional from Dr. David Jeremiah (see davidjeremiah.org):

“In Romans 8:31-39 Paul details the impossibility of the Christian ever being separated from God’s love. Even though we experience trials, Paul wrote, we are “conquerors” in Christ. But “conquerors” wasn’t enough; Paul needed a stronger word. So he used a very rare Greek word, hupernikao. Huper is the basis of our English word “hyper”—it means above, beyond, or exceedingly. And nikao means to be victorious. Together as one word, they mean “more than conquerors” or “exceedingly victorious.” And that’s what Paul says the Christian is in Christ. Through Christ, the believer is triumphant over every trial and tribulation in life. No wonder he writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:39).

In Christ, you are an overachiever, a hyper-victor, an exceeding conqueror in the face of every obstacle in life.”

Thoughts?  Other insights?

Blessings!

Bill