Monday, March 9, 2015

PLEASE STOP TESTING ME


"Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…"

I don't know about you, but to me one of the most annoying things is people testing audio systems.  It seems like they repeat this little mantra over and over again.

After the umpteenth time, I'm ready to shout, "Enough already!!  It's working!"

Another annoying phrase?

"Can you hear me now?"

OK, yes, I'll admit that this made for a pretty clever catchphrase for one particular wireless company.  But honestly, sometimes I feel like shouting back:

"YES!  I HEAR YOU!"

Now, if I've got to be perfectly honest, I sometimes feel like God is doing the same thing.  Sometimes it feels like God is saying to me, "Testing, testing, 85, 86, 87…Can you hear Me now?"

And I am sorely tempted to reply:

"Enough already!!  It's working!  I HEAR YOU!"

Sometimes I just get tired of feeling like my life is a series of spiritual tests.  Meted-out situations that try my faith, and make me feel like I'm constantly being evaluated.

Sometimes the tests are pop quizzes – and sometimes, they're hand-written, lengthy essay, this-will-determine-your-whole-grade final exams.

Can I get an amen?!

And sometimes I just get weary.  Overwhelmed.  Discouraged.

And honestly, maybe just a tad resentful at times??


So, this is what's on my mind today.

I'm in contact with a lot of you out there in Blog Land – some personally, and others through your writing.  And, I've got to admit, there's an awful lot of testing going on.  I have often found myself turning to the Lord and saying, "Lord, why?  This person has certainly had enough."

OK, now I’m remembering another irritating little phrase:

"Things come in threes."

Well, truthfully, in my life and in many of your lives, it seems like things come in batches of 103!

Like the incessant waves of the ocean, one thing after another seems to crash upon the already storm-churned shores of our lives.  And we are left breathless and gasping for air.

Another amen?!

So, today I want to probe this subject a bit.  I want to start by dissecting another phrase that bothers me.  It really bugs me when you're in the middle of some trial (or twenty) and people say something to the effect:

"Don't worry.  God won't give you more than you can handle."

Yes, sometimes people mean it sincerely, and it is a genuine way of expressing heartfelt sympathy.  But sometimes, hearing that makes me feel dismissed, invalidated, belittled.  Like I've received a very "nice" spiritual pat on the head and kick in the you-know-where.

"OK, I've done my duty…buh bye."

And more often than not, if I'm feeling like I am NOT handling the *it* then I get to pile on a bunch of internal judgments.  Now I'm a crummy Christian, I have no faith, I'm caving in to the enemy, I'm weak…

Ya know???

So, first of all, I'd like to point out that this phrase is not an accurate quote.  Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God won't give us more than we can handle.  I believe this thought comes from a misinterpretation of this verse:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)


You see, this verse is not talking about overwhelming circumstances or daunting situations.  It is talking about temptation.  And the promise is that God will not allow temptation to overtake us without Him providing a way to escape it.  Certainly our free will comes into play.  We can choose to fall into temptation.  But if we turn to Him, He will always give us an *escape route.*

The danger of believing the misquote is that if we are faced with trials that severely test us, and if we feel that we honestly cannot handle themwell, it's not a big leap to then think that God has somehow let us down by allowing this to happen.

"But Lord, You promised not to give me more than I can handle…and I can't handle this!"

Well, actually, the Lord did not promise that in Scripture.

But, He did promise something else.  

He promised to be with us in the testing, to give us His grace, strength, and faith to endure.

These verses:

"For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.  But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us.  On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10, ESV)


I think God allows things in our lives that we can't handle all the time.

ALL. THE. TIME.

Think about it.  Moses' speech impediment was never cured.  Jacob's hip was never repaired.  Paul's "thorn" was never relieved.  Over and over God allows His people to experience situations that are humanly impossible so that He receives the glory.  

Life brings *stuff* that is much more than we can handle and that is the whole point! 

God's power shows up to see us through.  And, in every moment that we are tested, we are promised Someone who cares.

Now, yes, sometimes God allows tempting to come into our lives.  He even allowed Jesus to be tempted by Satan himself.  But, God is never the tempter.

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one." 
(James 1:13, ESV)

So, testing can involve temptation, but more often than not, it's just the trials and travails of living that become crushing.


Here's my second train of thought.

Sometimes I am sorely tempted (!) to ask the Lord to stop testing me.  To maybe just cut me some slack.  To perhaps just leave me alone for a while so I can catch my spiritual breath.

Sometimes I can identify with Jonah.  Buy me a ticket on the next boat to Tarshish so I can run away from it all for a *life vacation.*  

"…hoping to escape from the LORD..." (Jonah 1:3, NLT)

I remember years ago when I returned to the Lord after a period of not following Him very closely.  I remember the great sense of forgiveness and redemption.  I remember the precious sense of renewed intimacy.

And I remember the underlying fear.

I felt like I had a target on my back.  For, when we desire to follow Jesus closely, we will find ourselves on the enemy's radar.  We become a threat, and he comes after us.

I knew that my renewed commitment to discipleship was going to come at a cost.  There would be testing.

Jesus knew this:

"'And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.  But don't begin until you count the cost.'" (Luke 14:27-28, NLT)

And though I feared the testing, I desired to follow Him more.


One thing that I have found greatly encouraging in the middle of everything is that testing is not without purpose.  God is not malicious, frivolous, or mean.  He does not derive vicarious enjoyment from our suffering.  He is not a bully.  Quite the opposite, in fact.

I believe that He grieves with our grief, cries at our tears, suffers our suffering, feels our pain, and empathizes with every weary bone in our bodies, every exhausting thought in our minds, and every sigh of discouragement in our souls.

He knows what we feel – for He listened to the cries of His Son.

Take this cup.

I thirst.

Why have You forsaken me?

And yet, there was something greater that God had in mind.


So, what are some things that testing accomplishes – what is its purpose in our lives?

This:

To develop perseverance and spiritual endurance.

To increase the virtue of patience.

To prove our character.

To teach us trusting obedience.

To demonstrate His power.

To infuse us with His strength.

To impart His peace.

To transform us into the image of His Son.

To teach us, instruct us, guide us.

To discipline us with love.

To deepen our faith.

To increase intimacy with us.

To open new channels of communication.

To experience His presence.

To comfort others in their suffering.

To allow us to identify with the suffering of Jesus.

To make us long for our eternal home.


So sure, sometimes I want to tell God, "Please stop testing me."

And yes, sometimes I turn to the skies and cry out from the depths of my heart:

"Enough already!!  It's working!  I HEAR YOU!"

And sometimes I think I desperately want God to leave me alone.

But at the same moment that my wearily-tested soul mutters, "Leave me be" – it is quickly followed by the deeper truth, "Please don't leave me."

And I realize once again that when I am tempted to tell God to leave me alone, I hear His unmistakable response:

"No, I love you too much."





In the fire,
I am refined...

And when He tests me,
I will come out
as pure as gold.




(LOTS OF SCRIPTURE THIS WEEK!  But it's all soooo good!  Be sure to check out the quote at the end):


"Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2, NLT)

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart." (Proverbs 17:3, NIV)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts…and lead me along the path of everlasting life." 
(Psalm 139:23-24, NLT)

"Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness." (Psalm 26:2-3, NIV)

"'I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'" (Jeremiah 17:10, ESV)

"'Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.'" (Isaiah 48:10, NASB)

"'I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'" (Zechariah 13:9, NLT)

"…he knows where I am going.  And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.  For I have stayed on God's paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside.  I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food." (Job 23:10-12, NLT)

"But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.  For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…" (1 Peter 2:20-21, NASB)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." 
(2 Corinthians 1:3-5, NASB)

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us..." (Romans 5:3-5, NLT)

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, NASB)

"These trials will show that your faith is genuine.  It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.  So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world." (1 Peter 1:7, NLT)

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." 
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ESV)



"We tend to interpret God's love by looking at our circumstances...Instead, we must allow the strong and secure love of God to become the lens through which we interpret everything that happens in our lives.  When we see our suffering through the lens of God's love, we see that our suffering has meaning and purpose.  And while we may never label the suffering as good, we have the consoling confidence that God is going to use it for our good and his glory.  The love of God supports us and sustains us."

-- Nancy Guthrie, The One Year Book of HOPE




Are you being severely tested?  What truths are you holding on to?



Linked with:

PLAYDATES WITH GOD, SMALL WONDER, MONDAY'S MUSINGS, MONDAYS AT SOUL SURVIVAL, MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAYS, GOOD MORNING MONDAYS, SHARING HIS BEAUTY, SOLI DEO GLORIA, TELL ME A TRUE STORY, TITUS 2 TUESDAYS, UNITE, TESTIMONY TUESDAY, TUESDAY TALK, A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS, TEACHING WHAT IS GOODTELL HIS STORY, COFFEE FOR YOUR HEART, THREE WORD WEDNESDAY, WOMEN WITH INTENTION, WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAYS, WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY, WISE WOMAN, COFFEE & CONVERSATION, SO MUCH AT HOME, BELOVED BREWS, THOUGHT-PROVOKING THURSDAYS, EVERYDAY JESUS, HEARTS FOR HOME, GRACE AT HOME, THOUGHTFUL THURSDAYS, LIVE FREE THURSDAYSHINE, LITTLE THINGS THURSDAYS, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAYS, LIGHT FRIDAY HIT LIST, A GROUP LOOK, FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY, FELLOWSHIP FRIDAY, GRACE & TRUTH, FAITH FILLED FRIDAY, COUNTING MY BLESSINGS, FAITH & FELLOWSHIP, SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS, SATURDAY SOIREE, STILL SATURDAY, WEEKEND BREW, RECOMMENDATION SATURDAY, GIVE ME GRACE, SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

43 comments:

  1. Thank you Sharon. I'm holding on to "His strong and secure love" in every promise in all those verses and through every testing (may I be reminded of the many purposes that you so wonderfully enumerated). I get weary in the testing but I don't think I would ever want Him to just leave me be ... and like you, ask Him to never leave me. Knowing full well that He won't... even if I feel like I'm way over my limit ... His Grace is enough! amen ... finally seeing this more clearly. I have seen so many that have been undauntingly given far beyond again and again then anyone could possible handle "but God ..." shows up and His glory shines (seemingly too late in my humble opinion often, right at the breaking point or the "max") yet I'm so thankful He is there and through His lens (often in retrospect) we can be amazed time and time again by His Grace and Love through our sufferings and testings and ... Hold on!

    Love your photo with the "being refined as gold" thoughts and verses but my favorite was "like the incessant waves ..." which made me think of the song with "wave after wave, crashes over me" in reference to His Love ... not the testing ... which indeed "supports and sustains us" which at times does not "make me brave" but able to stand the test with this hope and assurance!

    Much love to you and many blessings ('til the other side of all this "testing", isn't that life? and our journey day after day? so it seems) Hold on, sending hugs and prayers,
    Peggy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohh and I usually didn't do so well on "tests" even if I studied all night, the pressure and if they're timed ... worse. And I find myself easily annoyed more and more with "testing, 1, 2, 3..." kind and the other cliches as well.

      Just some after thoughts as I went about my day! :) See, even you go with me throughout my day once I read your inspirational thoughts ... like God's Word, I keep mulling them over and over. Heart messages always strike me like this.

      Delete
  2. I know exactly what you mean, friend. You wrote so eloquently what I can only feel in my heart :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sharon, as usual you have hit the target for me. I am very weary at the moment, but holding on to Him.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sharon, thank you for sharing this much needed truth with us today. I'm facing, not some big test, but more on my plate to do than I can handle. Today I'm choosing to rely on God instead of my own abilities to get things done thanks to you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That was a great quote, Sharon, and so true with it! Also liked the picture of the rings :)

    I agree with your thought that there is nowhere in the Bible that God won't give us more than we can handle, but there are plenty of scripture that backs up the point that God never leaves us or abandons us and that is reassuring, even in the midst of the testing he puts us through to refine us for his glory :)

    I like a little period of rest between tests, though sometimes that doesn't happen, but continue to trust God knows what is best for me :)

    betty

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sharon, Thank you for reminding us that no matter the test, no matter the duration, God is there in the midst. Yep, been there over and over, wanting "out" - but when I look back at what He has brought me through, I marvel at His Goodness and His Faithfulness and that I am stronger (yes, stronger) than before. Going through a "training" period even now, and trusting in His Sovereignty. Blessings, Dianna

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sharon, I'm so glad you pointed out that misinterpretation of 1 Cor 10:13. I hear it a lot, and usually with a protestation that it isn't true, implying God isn't! My experience is that God does test me with situations beyond my ability to deal with them, and I'm convinced a big part of the reason is so that I'll look to and depend upon Him instead of my own "self-sufficiency."

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sharon - perfectly said! I have been bothered by the God doesn't give more than you can endure saying for years and I have been grateful for the "Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, thou art with me.." Because I realized, years ago, when circumstances were more than I could bear, that God KNEW I would walk through the Valley - He didn't put me there, but He stayed with me - strengthening and comforting and yes, tempering. We serve a mighty God, in so very many ways!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
    I have learnt to accept my burdens, it's been a long road. But God has been so good when I have crumbled, rebelled and fought against Him.
    I still rebel from time to time, but now I know to tell it to His face. Because one of the things that I love about God so much, is that He is big enough to recieve and accept our unrest and hard words. And when I rebel by telling Him that I don't think He knows exactly what He is doing, that I don't understand why He expects me to suffer so much, that I don't believe He is right but my way of doing things would be so much better... It's not really rebelling anymore.
    Because when I tell Him all this, He hears me and I can always trust that He does know, that His way is the best and that He has His reasons. And I can always say: I don't really believe but I need You to help me to believe.
    And He is always willing to do it. And even thought I'm in unrest, I still can rest in Him.

    ReplyDelete
  10. We can spit out the cliches, can't we? Sigh. I'm sure I do my share of it too. But I want to do less. Cliches don't help people. God helps people. His promises and his faithfulness help people. Thanks for reminding us of that today, Sharon.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yes. Yes. Yes. If God never gave us more than we could handle, we would never have any reason to turn to Him!

    I love 2 Corinthians 1:3-5... It's one that resonates with me... especially after a tough time in my life where I felt God give me the words from Psalm 71:19-23, which includes "You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israiel. I will shout for joy and sing your priases, for you have ransomed me."

    Trouble is coming. No doubt. But He will bring us through... and He will use it. I am so thankful for that. Thank you, Sharon, for the reminder. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. It is so much easier to see these biblical lessons AFTER THE FACT! When the trial is over and I look back and see how God did it that way for a reason...He loved me that much. Then it all makes sense. And now to trust Him as I go through...not as easy. But I know I can trust Him! Thank you for all the wonderful reminders in His Word and that great quote, too. So glad we are on this journey of faith together.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the way you find a theme and run with it always using lots of scripture. I too get annoyed at those testing sound equipment. "Is this thing on now?" We all have a test of some kind; for some it is financial, or our health, or the health of our loved ones. Suffering in soul and spirit is just as painful as physical hurt. May we reach out to our powerful God who is always able to deliver us and bring us through the fire, leaving only the gold. Thank you for sharing with us here at "Tell me a Story." I always look forward to your awesome posts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Sharon, I'm your neighbor at Holly Barrett's today. Oh, testing! I love your list of things that God accomplishes in us through testing. (The purposes of testing.) My test this week? A busy week with a lot more activity than I'd like when I'm already starting the week tired. But I know God is at my side helping me!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amen! I've had this Bible verse on my mind all week, and here your post reaffirms the message over and over: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

    Even when we commit our life to honoring Jesus, and the evil one comes at us full force, God twists all that evil into something he can use for good. God is good!

    I'm grateful for your post today. Blessings to you!

    Jenni

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes there is a lot of testing going on out there. Sometimes that in itself brings me down, all the suffering I see breaks my heart and bursts my bubble. I too what to shout "leave me alone" but try really hard to thank Him all the time and I do say "please don't leave me alone." I came across a Bible verse today on a post from a woman who has been tested:

    “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

    ReplyDelete
  17. God is faithful. God walks with us. Enduring faith builds character. God delights over us with singing. He longs for a close relationship with us. These are some of the many things I focus on.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Amazing post, Sharon. Great lesson about the fact that it is temptation. We fear and begin to let the temptation of counting on ourselves overwhelm us.

    "Testing; 88, 89, 90…!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love your honesty and vulnerability here! I don't like to hear the "God won't give you more than you can handle" cliche either. He gives us more than we can handle so that we will turn to Him...we can't do it alone, but we can do it with His help!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Amen, sister! I get so weary of the tests as well. I really relate to you here. But I do want to molded into "gold" :). I'm certain there is a lot of work left to be done in me, but I'm definitely in a period of exhaustion and feeling I may be in more than I can handle. Thanks for your encouragement!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Such a hard concept for us to grasp as we go through testing. This post brought to mind this Scripture, "It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn to your decrees." (Psalm 119:71, NIV). We may not see it at the time, but everything we go through in life serves a purpose in our lives. Grateful to have read this today!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you so much for your honesty, Sharon! I say Amen to everything you wrote here...My daughter and I were just discussing the subject of how we sometimes argue with God...but he knows our hearts anyway, so not questioning Him, and suppressing our true feelings will not work anyway...so we might as well cry out/speak out!
    I am so glad you corrected that misinterpretation...I have actually been guilty of misquoting that scripture also....It is not good to jump into repeating some things we hear so often, until we take time to think and learn about them ...especially when scripture is involved! And that was the subject discussed with a friend just two days ago :)
    Blessings and love~ Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  23. Our pastor did a great sermon on how we misquote this passage last year. And you friend have also covered this beautifully. But you always do. Can one say too many times how grateful I am for you?

    And while stuff feels heavy lately and there's this small part of me that just wants to run away. . . THIS "Please don't leave me." Yes, Please, Please don't leave me God.

    Love you, friend.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh how I know about having more than I can handle! I'm so thankful God uses that stuff to draw us to him so we don't have to handle it! Thanks for sharing at #ThreeWordWednesday.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I agree with everyone else that you have so much valuable insight into life. I have had so many things come my way that people have shared, like you. I first started reading yours because we have the same name. I have always had a terrible time reading and would love to be able to develop a love to read. I'm thankful God doesn't give up on us. He has a plan for each of us. Do you know how to develop a love for reading? If you do just send it to me and I'll be forever grateful. Send to dollgirl48@yahoo.com. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ok so first, Amen! Yes to all of it! Secondly, I have developed a habit of praying, "Lord, if this is a test from you, please give me all the wisdom so I learn this lesson well, ace this exam, and never have to revisit this again!!" How well has that worked for me? I don't know... When I find out, I'll let you know!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am so thankful that He never leaves me -- and that He is omnipotent. I'd be a complete mess without Him.

    Hugs, Sharon

    ReplyDelete
  28. I too recently have been going through my share of testing and could easily say as you stated, "Enough already! It's working".

    I actually started reading Job because of how I was feeling in my trials.

    It was so eye-opening to see just how many verses speak about testings in the Christian's life.

    1 Peter 4:13 spurs us on, to "rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed".

    Thank you for the blessing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh, dear friend! I am speechless. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Every word resonated...deep. Have you heard the song by "The Perrys" called, "The Potter Knows The Clay"? It talks in there about how the Potter knows how many times around the wheel will bring submission to His will. I never thought of that Scripture speaking specifically about just temptation, but you are exactly right. We are appointed to these trials. Knowing that sure doesn't make them any easier to plow through, but knowing that, at least, helps it all to make sense. I cannot thank you enough for this post....I have been meaning to get over here to read it, and tonight, I finally made it. I couldn't have read it at a more opportune or appropriate time. Thank you so much for your consistent obedience to the precious Holy Spirit and for sharing what He places upon your heart. Love and appreciate you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  30. He never gives us more than HE can handle on our behalf is a more accurate phrase!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank you sharing the thoughts that I have been thinking for quite some time now: "Please stop testing me! I don't want to grow any more!" Thank you for showing me that I am not the only one that is exhausted! Thank you for reminding me that God is very near and that He cares about my weariness! Thank you for listing some of the many reasons that God continues to walk us through hardships even though we are tired. Thank you for shedding light on the blithe saying of "giving us no more than we can handle." It is not God's Word and therefore does not bring truth nor light nor comfort. God's Word is a salve to the hurting; that brings a swipe across an open wound. I'm so happy I found your post! God bless!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for joining the party Sharon. Rev and I had a couple of years when our friends called us "high maintenance prayer needy." Whew it was rough, but my faith grew. My how my faith grew. Blessings to you. Praying the tests lighten very soon.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Thanks for sharing this at Good Morning Mondays and for sharing the incorrect quote from scripture, definitely something to think and pray about. Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  34. In regards to testing, this is what I've been chewing on today:
    “And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you into the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you… so that you might know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” Deuteronomy 8:2-3

    ReplyDelete
  35. Well, I'd really like to hope I'm one of those people who has learned to stop speaking the cliche response to someone else's pain. Sometimes saying nothing and offering a hug is better. I haven't quite figured out how to do this via the internet? But I try. And I love the heart of this post Sharon. And I couldn't agree more. God never promised us an easy life. He promised to always be with us through thick and thin. :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. I appreciate that you shared your thoughts on this topic, well-thought and articulated in such a grace-filled way. I found myself shaking my head and quietly murmuring amens along the way. This one, though, the "God will only give you as much as you can handle" quote, it has always been like a burr in my saddle. I have often told people when they say it that there is no such verse in the Bible. :) That doesn't always go far, but I love that you shared these scriptures so that I can point them to the right ones.

    Thanks, Sharon for sharing such an insightful and encouraging word.
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  37. Oh, sweet friend THANK YOU for speaking Truth about some very popular misconceptions about God! The most effective lies are the ones that contain an element of truth and these have been all too effective, especially in the lives of believers. There is often only One set of footprints in the sand, but we are NEVER alone. May you feel the comfort of His arms today, friend.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Ah, Sharon-- such a true and encouraging post (as usual!) I especially love the purpose list... Something that uplifts me as this army-wife-minister-mama role continues to challenge me daily.

    I am so grateful for you. Love you, lady.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Thank you for sharing this Sharon. You are right, things do come in threes. I have so felt tested lately, but then God did what he always does and provided exactly what we needed. He is sure tricky like that sometimes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. We pray for patience, then are frustrated when God allows trials to come into our life! You're so right -- we can't handle any trials in our own strength, but praise God, we can do all things through Christ Who gives us strength. Thanks for the wonderful post. Linked up with you at Renewed Daily -- hope you'll stop by Saved by Grace for a visit!
    God bless,
    Laurie
    http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  41. Great thoughts. I think we all tend to get this backwards sometimes when we thing God promises that He will take away all our struggles and suffering. You are right that HE will protect us from temptation, but not necessarily the struggles..unless He thinks that is for our good and His glory to remove them.

    ReplyDelete
  42. YES! I wholeheartedly agree with your thoughts here. I actually think often gives us more than we can handle, because that's when it's clear that HE'S the One handling it for us. No growth can come without struggle, so it would be wise for us to embrace struggles as that which helps us grow up in Christ. I'm so glad you linked this up at Grace & Truth!

    ReplyDelete

"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)