When a Verse is Stripped of its Truth

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

 

There’s a Christian cliche that has been thrown around for years, and while it is derived from a very true Bible verse, it has been so miserably taken out of context that it does not even contain its original accuracy. That cliche is as follows, “God will never give you more than you can handle.”

Now, this phrase is derived from 1 Corinthians 10:13 which states, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I read 1 Corinthians 10:13, I see a big leap between that and the phrase “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Yes, the cliche is extracted from scripture, but it has been stripped of so much of its context and the concept of utter dependence on God has been plucked from the verse that this phrase can be deemed as almost unrecognizable. 

Think of Job, who within minutes lost the following:

• His oxen
• His donkeys
• His sheep
• His camels
• His servants
• His children

 

Not too long later, he also lost his health, getting painful sores all over his body. That, I would imagine, would be too much to handle. However, he never cursed God. We can also think of the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers and wrongfully imprisoned. What a horrible thing to go through, much too much for anyone to handle – but he leaned on God. 

In this life, we will face grievances that are too much to handle – losing a loved one, a terrible diagnosis, depression, heartache, rejection, and betrayal just to name a few. However, the Lord wants us to lean on Him for strength. God brings beauty out of brokenness; only He can do that! When we can say to others “Yes, I went through this difficult trial, BUT GOD showed His faithfulness and brought me through,” our testimony brings nothing but honor and glory to God, amen?

 

Written by Erin C.: Erin served for four years as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

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Think About This: “Faith isn’t a feeling, it’s a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain.” – TobyMac

The Daily Bible Reading: 2 King 13-17| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His ^[a]mercy endures forever. ² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy –Psalm 107:1-2

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.