Context Matters: God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle

Perhaps you’ve heard that God will never give you more than you can handle. That, when life turns against you and sin bares its fangs, you can get through it with enough courage and persevering faith.

Context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of quotable quotes or inspirational sayings—we’ll find that some of our most familiar sayings aren’t actually in the Bible.

Biblical Context

First, we should deal with the fact that the larger biblical witness clearly contradicts the statement that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

Just ask Job, whose vexation at his condition was heavier than the sand of the sea (Job 6:2-3). He would prefer to be crushed than to have to handle his situation any longer (Job 6:8-9). He loathed his own life (Job 7:16) and wished God would lay off him long enough that he could swallow his spit (Job 7:19). And these things all come from only one of his speeches!

Just ask the psalmist (perhaps David), who also asks God to look away from him so he can smile again (Ps 39:13).

Just ask Jonah, who was so completely unable to handle what God gave him that he figuratively died from it (Jon 2:1-3), and later wished he could literally die (Jon 4:8-9).

The consistent biblical witness is that: God gives people more than they can handle so they will learn to trust that only he can handle it. The common aphorism that “God won’t give you more than you can handle” is triumphalistic nonsense that fails to account for the common human need for lament through deep suffering.

Literary Context

The phrase “God won’t give you more than you can handle” won’t show up in a Bible keyword search. Just try it. This mistaken sentiment typically arises from a superficial reading of 1 Cor 10:13, which warrants a closer look.

“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 Cor 10:13)

This glorious verse sets up Paul’s chief command in this passage: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Cor 10:14). How did he get here?

In this section of the letter (beginning with 1 Cor 7:1), Paul answers a number of questions the Corinthians had asked him in a letter. In 1 Cor 8:1, he takes up the question of what to do with food sacrificed to idols—a major source of meat in the Corinthian market.

In chapter 8, he gives a preliminary answer that knowledge is important and helpful: There is only one God; therefore eating meat that was sacrificed to a non-existing entity doesn’t really matter. However, what’s even more important than true knowledge about the spiritual realm is love for other believers. If eating this meat might tempt someone back into worship of those idols, don’t do it. Therefore, we can restrict our liberty (due to mature knowledge) at times to serve others.

In chapter 9, Paul uses himself as a positive example. He restricts his liberty, his right, to get paid as a minister. He does this out of love, so he can preach the gospel to more people.

Then in chapter 10, Paul uses Israel’s wilderness generation as a negative example. They took their privileges and liberties for granted. As a result, they fell into idolatry and immorality, and God removed their right to life.

Paul’s point is simply: Liberty + selfishness = idolatry and death. But liberty + love = greater gospel impact on people’s lives.

In this context, he states that “no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.” In other words, don’t look down on the characters of Scripture as boneheads. You’re no different than they! You think you can eat meat sacrificed to an idol and not get sucked back into idolatry? You think you’re beyond this? You should remember you have the same inclination toward pride and self-trust as the ancient Israelites. And that temptation will lead nowhere good.

“God…will not let you be tempted beyond your ability.” He doesn’t say he won’t give you more than you can handle. He says that whatever temptation you face will always have an escape. The rock that is Christ still follows you through your wilderness, pronouncing blessing and spewing life. When you can’t handle your circumstances, don’t forget that he can.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Context matters.

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Thanks to Andrew J for the idea for this post.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.