God will not give us more than we can handle....will He?

"God will not put more on you than you can handle." This is a saying that we have all heard more times than we can possibly count. I was even in a conversation the other day when the person conversing with me made this statement. This is a statement that has always rubbed me the wrong way, if for no other reason because it is a cheap cliche that people seem to say just to try to make themselves feel better in the moment. However, lately it has been rubbing me the wrong way theologically. It gets me thinking, is this true? Is there biblical text that teaches such a statement, or does the Bible proclaim a truth that actually teaches the exact opposite? II Corinthians 12.1-10 is a key text in seeing a biblical view of this statement, but it is not the only one. In this text Paul is referring to a "thorn" that is in his flesh. Paul is not referring to a literal thorn that is irritating his skin, but rather some affliction that is upon him that he cannot overcome or bear. The identity of this thorn is highly debated, and for the sake of time and relevance I will not go into hasing out my interpretation of the thorn. Rather I want us to focus on what takes place between God and Paul regarding the thorn. Three times Paul pleaded with God to take this "thorn" from him. The ability to overcome or "handle" this thorn was beyond Paul's ability, so he was pleading with God to take it away from Him. So how does God respond? Does he tell Paul, "Don't worry, I will not give you more than you can handle?" No. He says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is make perfect in weakness." (emphasis mine) Christ Jesus, not Paul, is the one with the strength to handle the situation. If you look at the context, God gave Paul the thorn to keep him from getting boastful in the first place. God placed the thorn in the side of Paul to show him that he couldn't do it on his own strength and to draw him into a deeper realization of his need of Christ Jesus. God's power, grace, and goodness are displayed, not in keeping us from more than we can handle, but rather showing us we can't handle it and bringing us to Him through Christ Jesus. Think about the mindset that truly lies behind the statement that God will not give us more than we can handle. On the surface it seems that we are putting trust in God that he wouldn't do something harsh to us. But the main heart behind this statement is one of pride. Ultimately, we are saying that we don't need God's help, because after all we can handle it. So let us be sure of this, God will give us more than we can handle, but he will not leave us in the midst of it. May we embrace our inability to be God and therefore our inability to have the power, wisdom and strength to overcome all things. May we rest in the truth of the Psalmist when he writes, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling." May we stop resting in our strength and may we rejoice in our weakness. May we cling to the power of God whose weakness is stronger than our strength (I Cor.1.25). May we trust in Christ as our strength and righteousness.