A misconception of what the bible says. It does not say “God will never give you more than you can bear.”The quote that is frequently used to back up the idea, from 1 Corinthians, doesn’t really say what people assume it does...
No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.
Paul is reminding his readers that God will not allow people to be tempted beyond their abilities. That is, there is no temptation that you should feel you are powerless against, because God would not allow you to be tempted by something you couldn’t resist. If you’re being tempted, in Paul’s thinking, it’s something you are strong enough to resist.

But that is a far different thing from claiming that nothing will happen to you, that you will not have to bear a burden, that you cannot bear. In fact, in addition to that quote not being in the Bible, we can find plenty of quotes that mean the exact opposite that are in the Bible, including one from Paul himself where he writes:

“Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be unaware of the troubles that we went through in Asia. We were weighed down with a load of suffering that was so far beyond our strength that we were afraid we might not survive.” (2 Corinthians 1:8 CEB)

“We were weighed down with a load of sufferings that was so far beyond our strength that we were afraid we might not survive.” That is quite different from saying “God didn’t give us any burdens we couldn’t bear.”

Throughout scripture, we encounter people overwhelmed by what befalls them. And lest we forget, this applies to Jesus, too, who dies in agony on the cross, crying out “My God, My God, why have you left me?”

I only reprinted this because often times I have heard this quote. God is great and will always be with you but do not doubt this world as so much sin and a lot of pain that is too hard to bare without him.

How many people are suffering great burdens and then on top of that, suffering because they’re suffering? What cruelty to tell people that they should be able to bear all their problems, else God would not have given them to them and then for those same people to realize that they are outmatched, that they cannot bear what has come their way. And as with the woman above, the only conclusion they come to is that they are bad Christians, or bad people, or lack proper faith. Ultimately, in the minds of the faithful, if they’re suffering what has come upon them then it’s their fault. They have screwed up, because God would certainly never allow this kind of burden to fall on someone who couldn’t bear it. So the failure to do so must be their own.

This, then, raises yet another problem in addition to the two noted earlier. In addition to this verse not being Biblical and not being an accurate reflection of our experience, it has one other major failing: it places all the focus in the wrong place.

The sentiment that God never gives you anything more than you can bear makes it about what you can bear. And as I am fond of saying, if I could add a line to the creeds or to the commandments, it’d be “It’s not about you.”

That is precisely the point that Paul makes in his second letter to the Corinthians. In the verse that follows immediately after his statement that they were weighed down with a load of sufferings that was so far beyond their strength that they were afraid they might not survive, he writes:

“It certainly seemed to us as if we had gotten the death penalty. This was so that we would have confidence in God, who raises the dead, instead of ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 1:9 CEB)

Note what Paul is saying. We thought we were finished. Dead. We knew that we couldn’t handle it because it was beyond our strength. But all of that is to remind us that we should have confidence in God and not in ourselves. What Paul reminds us is that our trials and sufferings are not a measure of how much we can bear. Indeed, we may often encounter sufferings that are very much more than we can handle.

What Paul does is remind us that the sufferings are not something apart from God. They are not tests sent by God to us, but rather places in which we encounter God.

And that’s why the cross is such an important symbol for us. And not the empty cross. The cross with Jesus still on it. The Cross on which we see the Son of God suffering pain, humiliation, injustice, and violence, to the point of death.

The cross reminds us not only of the brokenness of the world—a brokenness that is glossed over by Sentimental Christianity—but also reminds us that in those times of suffering and pain, we are not alone. We encounter a God who stands with us in the suffering. A God who is not apart from that burden and pain, but one who is in it with us. As Jesus himself says in the Gospel lesson we heard earlier:

“Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.”

Our faithfulness is not demonstrated by how easily we are able to bear the burdens that come our way. Our faith is demonstrated by our recognition that we cannot bear the burdens ourselves and trust in the grace of God who bears them with us.

Reprinted from :http://www.aumethodists.org/worship/sermons/2012-fall/9-lies-you-hear-in-church-3-god-never-gives-you-more-than-you-can-bear/

i believe in God but I don't think God gives what up to what we can handle

I do believe that most people wouldn't fffffffffffup their marriages If they had the good sense to be thankful for what they complain about But they focus on complaining, most usually not to the one they have complaints with, and then complain to the opposite sex, and ..... well

I usually hesitate posting anything about the Bible or Christianity on any board that is not specifically made for the topic. However, since Giselle did, I'm jumping in too.

@reply 12. Saul was mortally wounded by the Philistines and in danger of being captured and tortured so after his armor-bearer refused to do as Saul requested (draw his sword and thrust it into Saul) he fell upon his sword.

My take on God not giving you more than you can handle. Well, that is not a phrase that gives me comfort either. For some people it does. When I first came here, people would say "you'll make it, your a strong woman." Well I didn't feel strong at the time and looking back, I feel more like a survivor than a "strong woman."

We cannot do anything in our own strength. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We are not to not bear our burdens alone, we rely on God. It's a struggle, even Paul knew that, for he wrote in Romans 7:15-16 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do

OK, I did not mean to start a holy war here. I did not mean to imply that "God does not give us more than we can handle" was in the bible, but more of a common lexicon. While I am a Christian (raised Catholic and have the scarred knuckles to prove it :-) ), I am not one of those who have the ability to quote scripture. And I also do not need to look at the misfortunes of others to make me feel better about my situation. As was said in an earlier post - it's all relative. There will always be someone better off, and worse off, richer, poorer, etc...
For me, it's about sharing this journey with others, helping each other to navigate this dark forest, and trying to find the positive things in life to focus on when it looks like the only thing we see is pain and misery.
I know in my heart that things will get better. It helps to know there are others that are on a similar journey (everyone's situation is at least a little bit different), and we can share experiences and ideas - ways to overcome, or at least deal with struggles we face. It helps to hear from others who have gone through some of thee tribulations and what they did to cope. I have received a lot of good "advice" (for lack of a better term), and some no good - for me. But I pull out what I need, and accept the rest as things that may have worked for others, but not for me.
And sometimes it just helps to know that someone is thinking of you - even if they don't know you, other than through what you've decided to share here. For me, it's been the kindness of strangers that have brightened my day the most - be it a simple post on here or the guy (or gal) that left a couple of bucks worth of quarters in the car wash with a note "hope this brightens your day a little".
So for what it's worth, those of you who've posted painful stories of your latest challenges, while I may not reply to every post, I am thinking of you, and praying you find the strength to make it through.

Wow...this conversation really went into the religious end of things. I am a big believer in.. we are never given more than what we can handle...never once have I said it was from the bible. I am not a religious person but I do consider myself very spiritual.

We all come from different walks of life...some of us are religious and some of us are not...our commonality is divorce and recovery. The heavy quoting from the bible...in my opinion...is not necessarily support for all. Other members are not quoting from there spiritual teachings hopefully out of respect for all. Perhaps there is a more religious divorce support site here at DS. where those that feel they need to preach can do so.

I would just like to say...I do respect all religions and believe it takes many roads to get to the same place...Big Hugs...Kathy

I think we just went off on a rabbit trail

Maybe this will lighten the mood:

Religions of the world

Taoism: Shit happens

Hinduism: This shit happened before

Islam: If shit happens, take a hostage

Buddhism: When shit happens, is it really shit?

7th Day Adventist: Shit happens on Saturday

Protestantism: Shit won’t happen if I work harder

Catholicism: If shit happens, I deserve it

Jehovah’s witness: Knock, knock, “shit happens”

Judaism: Why does shit always happen to me?

Hare Krishna: Shit happens rama rama ding-dong

Atheism: No shit

T.V. Evangelism: Send more shit

Rastafarianism: Lets smoke this shit

LOL...I love it Misred!!!!!!

AMEN!

OMG, Misred! I almost fell off my chair laughing at this! Love it! Especially the Rastafarian take on it! Maybe I'll become one of them.....OR move back to Colorado. LOL.

My favorite was the Jehovah's witness....knock knock

Kathie, you would look great in dread locks and you already have cool sunglasses

Ha ha Misred. That was a good laugh:) and I can also see you in dreadlocks and sunnies, Kathi. He he he.

Duci, we know you only wanted to help us move on. Thank you. Seeing other people's different situations in life does help me to see that I'm not the only one with problems.

Larry, everyone has their moments of despair. Big hugs, mate.

love and hugs
kamary

My apologies to the group. I can hit spells that put Eeyore to shame. Comparatively speaking while my life isn't peaches and cream like it once was it is still an easy life and I need to practice some gratitude here. Some facts can change by perception, it is those I need to focus on. Once again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone, and more than likely, I did.