Handling the Bad and the Good
I recently read an article written by a pastor about the platitude, “God will not give you more than you can handle.” The author wrote from the position that we as human’s here on this earth are indeed given much more than we can handle and therefore are required to trust in God while being willing to ask hard questions.
I think it is interesting that when this platitude is brought up it is always in reference to testing, trial, hurt, pain, death, illness and a plethora of other bad things that we go through in the world. It never really gets referenced in relation to the good stuff.
God is not a father who would allow His children to be crushed and driven away from Him, whether by pain or by blessing. Our Father understands what each one of us can handle and makes allowance according to that which will produce in us the greatest prosperity - true prosperity being the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The unintended consequence of temptation and trial is to drive the one under trial to the One who can handle it. The intended consequence of blessing is to reveal to the receiver the One who is bestowing it. It is all about Him, not about what is given or about our ability to handle it.