Is it true that God will not give us more than we can handle?

TL;DR:

God promises that we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle with His provision, not in our own strength. By depending on Him, we can stand firm against temptation and trials.

The Bible gives us a wonderful promise that we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle with His provision (1 Corinthians 10:13). The Bible does not promise that we will never be tempted beyond what we can handle in our own strength and resourcefulness, but if we lean on Him, God will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. Jesus told His disciples to find rest in Him. Paul was overwhelmed with trials and had to depend upon the Lord for strength. God has provided spiritual armor so we can stand firm against the evil of this world.

from the old testament

One Old Testament example of note is that of David and Goliath. In his own strength and resources, and even with the additional resources of Saul, David could not have defeated Goliath. But David relied on God when he said "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37). David was given more than he could handle, but he relied on God’s strength, not his own, to overcome what seemed impossible.

from the new testament

Jesus told those who were weary in their own strength to “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
First Corinthians 10:13 says, "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." Even when given more than we can handle on our own, God will always provide a way of escape when we face temptation, enabling us to endure with His help.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). But then he went on to write that, even though he and his companions did not have the ability to endure, "that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God" (2 Corinthians 1:9). Even when we face situations that feel overwhelming, God uses these moments to help us depend fully on His strength and provision.

implications for today

Whatever we are given to handle, we have assurance that we can rely on God instead of trying to do everything in our own strength. A New Testament example is Paul's life when he was spreading the gospel. In describing the trials he encountered, Romans 8:28–39 promises that we, Christians, "are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (verse 37). This passage begins with the assurance that "for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." We can be sure that, no matter what comes our way, God will provide the strength to endure and overcome it. If we are presented with a situation for which we are unprepared, God is prepared, and we can, through Him, cope with the situation. He has provided the armor of God and the privilege of prayer (Ephesians 6:11–18), with which we can "stand against the schemes of the devil." And this is not just some of the schemes of the Devil, but all the schemes of the Devil. So when we, as God's children, rely on Him, we will never be given more than we can handle.

understand

God provides a way to endure temptation beyond our ability.
We must rely on God’s strength, not our own.
In God, we are not given more than we can handle.

reflect

When facing challenges, how do you rely on God's strength instead of your own?
Can you think of a time when God provided a way of escape during a difficult temptation or trial? How did you experience His provision?
How do you practice finding rest in Jesus regularly and especially when you're feeling overwhelmed?

engage

How can we encourage each other to rely on God’s strength when facing overwhelming situations?
What are some practical ways we can lean on God’s provision when tempted or burdened?
How does understanding God’s promise that He gives us strength to handle everything that comes our way shape our perspective on trials and difficulties?