Prayers In Motion Blog A Lie Christians Tell Each Other

"God doesn't give us more than we can handle" is a phrase I have heard too many times by often well meaning Christians. I confess I have used this phrase before, mistakenly thinking I was comforting someone who was going through a difficult time. Upon reflection, I propose this phrase does a lot of damage because it is a lie. This spring I heard this comment shared offhandedly again so I wanted to do a little Biblical study to unpack the truth, thereby exposing the lie. First, it is important to note that this phrase suggests a self reliance. It teaches that if God loves us, He will only allow things into our lives that we can manage on our own. In contrast, God wants us to rely on Him when we face difficulties. We read in Psalms, "Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me."(Psalm 86:6-7). God desires to listen to us and speak to us. We are reassured that God knows and sees our troubles. "I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen [...]