This question gets asked a lot, by Christians and by non-Christians.
With the busyness of human life and all people have to think about, they sometimes come to a conclusion. This subject has probably crossed your mind, also, at some point.
The conclusion is that life sometimes throws at them more than they can bear.
So, this is the question.
Does God give you more than you can bear?Well, obviously there is no clear, direct answer to this to blanket everyone, but let's think about some things first.
Sometimes this questions stems from a verse in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 10:13 reads,
"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."The question is what it means by "temptation."
Some think it just refers to something like substance abuse, while some think it extends to what God allows to happen in your life.
The Greek word for temptation can be translated "a time of testing" or "a time of trial." It is important to note the New Testament was written in a form of the Greek language and the word has a broader meaning than it does in English. It is more than the substance abuse example above.
So what do Clergy think about this verse?There are things that God allows that are disagreeable to the nature of man, like when God instructed Abraham to leave everything behind. Humans don't generally like the most difficult way of doing things. But there are also temptations from Satan, like filling you with doubts. This is the way the verse is generally thought of.
God does not always remove things right away, and that is for your good in the long term (although you might not think so). That is an example of when things appear to be more than you can bear.
However, God knows what he created.
It is also important to note that humans usually need God's help to get through these things. Humans don't do it on their own. It involves having faith and the strength from God.
St. Paul makes this point more clearly in his Epistle to the Corinthians.
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."- 2 Corinthians 1:8-9
Even St. Paul speaks of situations beyond his ability to endure. But he also states there was a reason for it.
It is part of life. Things disrupt your life, surprises happen, people and things get put in your path that you didn't expect. That is the human experience.
But, with the knowledge and belief of your Creator, it changes.
It is a common belief, in the secular world also, that humans are capable of doing more than they think they are. An obvious example is the Navy Seals and the training they go through. In some classes none finish. Or what about D-Day?
As the saying goes, worthy things are difficult at first.
But what if it doesn't seem that way?
If you believe in religion you think God is the one who created you in the first place, and his revealed Word is the Bible.
What is revealed in the Bible?
2 Corinthians 12:9 states,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."Romans 8:37 states,
"We are more than conquerors through him who loved us."Many posts on this blog have attempted to discuss the possible reasons God allows suffering. There might never be a sufficient answer to explain suffering, but that shouldn't stop you from exploring.
Perhaps this is an example where a person can get meaning from their life.
If God didn't throw anything in your path or you were never tested then you might not know what you are capable of. That would not be a very interesting or meaningful life.
Also, when things seem more than you can bear you are more likely to seek God and his presence. People in modern society frequently think they can do things on their own. Meaning comes from deepening a relationship with the God that created you.
So, in your life it might seem like things are more than you can bear at times. This is normal, and it shows the need for humans to search for God.
Perspective is important.
Does your life seem like more than you can bear?
