Why God Gives Us More Than We Can Handle

I’ve heard the following phrase enough over the past ten years that I can almost steal the words from someone before they manage to escape their tongue: “God never gives us more than we can handle.” If these words are meant to encourage the hurting party directly then they’ll say, “Well, God will never give you more than He knows you can handle.” Comforters and counselors have this card handy and ready to draw when ever they’re in situations of suffering and tragedy. For many, these nine short words are often used as a last resort when the comforting party cannot come up with anything else to say. Sometimes, they can even be supplemented by a hearty pat and rub on the back or a confident look of assurance from the comforter, directly into the eye of the hurting party. These encouraging augmentations might actually bring comfort if the phrase, “God never gives us more than we can handle” was actually true.

The truth is, these nine words, that have been used time and time again in and out of Christian circles could not be further from the very truth that makes Christians, Christians. I know this first hand because God recently gave my wife and I something that we most certainly were not equipped to handle; we lost our son, Micah, at birth. We were and are faced with enduring something that we personally do not have the strength for. It goes without saying that death and dying are a part of this world that rock and sometimes shatter the infrastructures of people everywhere. The stories of people being effected by death and never recovering from the wounds are innumerable. So, when those nine words manage to force their way into someones rattled heart I’m less inclined to say, “Yes, I know,” and more inclined to say, “Really? I can’t believe that and still believe in the God of the Gospel.”

Here’s why:

To say that God never gives us more than we can handle is to say that God, in His love for us in times of tragedy and suffering leans in to us and says, “Well, my son, you know I never give you more than you can handle so. . .you’re on your own. You’ve got this. Tough it out. I love you.” To believe those slippery nine words is to believe that God’s desire for humanity is to walk out the hard roads of life on their own, in shoes made by their own hands. God’s only job is to give us a good, solid push on our way into on coming fire and wish us the best of luck.

This ever so common phrase is not God’s desire for man, it is not the Gospel, and it nullifies the cross of Christ and all that He accomplished.

The deep and short truth of the matter is that God does indeed allow overwhelming things like death and sickness to enter our lives and these things are too much for us to handle. The good news is that He is with us, because of what His Son has done. He will comfort us with a strength not our own. He will give us a joy awash with the saving blood of his Son and not the proverbial blood we shed in vain when we try to hold the prongs of death and suffering with our own hands. Life in a fallen world, with all of its traps, trials and broken surprises is more than any of us can handle. Strength is found in the Creator and the truth that Christ in us, is greater than anything that is in the world. We are not saved from hell by our own power and God does not intend for us to enter His Kingdom in our strength. For this, we ought to worship Him--He gives us great grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10

How to Fix NASCAR

I consider myself a lover of most sports--particularly sports that incorporate some sort of ball and/or some striking (of the ball), kicking, running, and vigorous physical activity. Just so I know I'm covering all of my bases I'll even throw in the sports that consist only of punching or hitting an opponent en route to victory. These sports are enjoyable to watch for a number of reasons; the objective is clear, the movements and action during the game, match, meet or event vary from moment to moment increasing the level of watchability and, there is quite a bit of room for commenting with your fellow spectators. For example, "Wow, that was a great pitch! He really brought his A-game today." or, "Man! He punched that guy square in the teeth. How could he just leave his whole face exposed like that?" or even, "Everything the offense throws at the defense is being shut down today! They're not giving them an inch! This game will go down in history as one of the greatest displays of defensive mastery ever played out on an athletic field."

These are just some of the reasons I, and many other sports lovers enjoy the sports we do. However, there is one sport I don't enjoy for one simple reason. I can't. The main reason is probably because I can't find room to incorporate my previous list of reasons why most sports are enjoyable to watch. This sport is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, otherwise known as NASCAR. This dizzying sport was started by one Bill France Sr. and apparently finds its early origins in the bootlegging hills of the Appalachian region of the United States. I never knew Bill France Sr. and I don't know any bootleggers, but if I was ever given the chance I would suggest some ways to improve the great National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. So, what follows is a list of ways to improve this sport, written and compiled by myself and a good friend. They appear in no particular order or degree of importance simply because applying any one of them would bring NASCAR to its full potential of watchability. Here they are:

1. At any point during the race, pre-selected fans should be allowed to drive monster trucks onto the race track in the direction of the drivers. This would test the driver's hand-eye coordination as well as incorporate a sense of team pride into the race because the monster truck driving fans could drive towards an opposing team's car, upping the chances of a home team victory.
2. The Paintball Compton 500. Instead of an annular track, why not hold a race in Compton and have random drive by paintball shootings from red or blue cars equipped with hydraulics interfere with the race. This increases watchability while giving the drivers a new look at culture in an urban environment along with giving people a fun and safe alternative to actual bullets.
3. The James Bond Open. One car is equipped by Q to launch rockets and drop oil slicks during the race. The identity of the 007 car is not disclosed until the race is over.
4. Large gaseous men ride shot gun with the driver, prohibiting him to role down his windows until the race is finished. This would increase the speed of the race which would free up valuable air time for other sports. It would also get rid of that weird net window thing.
5. The Kids in the Car Sprint Cup Series. This race would take place during the summertime with two random, and fairly devious children in the back seat who constantly argue and ask, "Are we there yet!" This option allows children to enjoy the sport close up. We could even mic-up the drivers to hear their responses. I'd imagine they'd say something like, "WE'RE ALWAYS THERE! WE'RE DRIVING IN CIRCLES!!!!"
6. Include a half-pipe.
7. Include car jackers at pit stops. This would incorporate an element of competitive fighting during the race as opposed to the random angry tizzy fights that take place after a driver has already crashed or worse, after the entire race is over. I read an interesting article on this and discovered that one driver/angry loser was also a Golden Gloves boxer. Unfortunately the fight took place after the race. If only they could've found a way to incorporate the Golden Glover's skills into the competition.
8. Put the cars into a huge parking lot made to look like a football field and have eleven stock cars with convertible tops line up across from another eleven and play a game of NASCAball (National Association for Stock Car Ball). This makes the speed of the cars a bit more interesting to watch. It also gives the drivers a chance to use more of their insight and deductive reasoning as they construct different plays. It wouldn't be a bad idea to incorporate the Wonderlic test in there somewhere either. Maybe as an alternative to a qualifying race.
9. Allow texting while driving. This makes perfect sense because it incorporates two activities that are illegal and/or unwise everywhere else in the country besides a circle shaped race track: texting behind the wheel and driving over the speed limit. It could also be an educational tool used to teach teenagers and irresponsible, single thirty-somethings about the dangers of texting while driving.
10. Incorporate real soccer fans, anywhere. The mix of redneck silver-tongued, toothless swagger, light beer, and pure, unaimed, frenzied and chanting angry passion should make for an interesting day at the race track.

Maybe in the next few years one of these will catch on. In the meantime, I'll be watching football and hoping for the day I can enjoy a race with friends.

Here is that article I referenced: Flying Fists: Rating NASCAR's top 5 fights

* The name of my "good friend" was omitted from this entry to save his life from the angry pummeling he would get from another good friend who is a real lover of NASCAR and doesn't see the need for any improvements. I will endure whatever punishment would come his way as a result of his inclusion in this entry.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

Romanticized Depression?

Martin Luther struggled with depression. Spurgeon struggled with depression; Edwards, Calvin, Bunyan, all great men of the Faith and all of them struggled with depression.

Thinking of myself and others--particularly of the Reformed persuasion--who are greatly encouraged and challenged by the afore mentioned men I'm faced with a question; Out of an admiration for their work and lives, has depression been romanticized in the Christian life?

I know many friends who say, "Depression is something I struggle with.", "Depression is something I battle with?", "I wrestle with depression."

I'm not downplaying legitimate depression or the people who truly wrestle with it but, how much of it is drummed up in our own minds? How much of it comes from focusing on our own sin instead of the Glory and Person of Christ, the power of the Cross, and the joy of the story of the Gospel? Could it be that many of us wallow in our depression and guilt, twist our faces in public and secretly try to claim piety and justification for our sad state of mind by referencing some of the greatest men of the faith who struggled with being downcast? Yes, men like Spurgeon, Edwards, Calvin, and others were mightily by God, but they were men at best (1 Cor 15:10). Any joy and comfort they received in their dark days is due to the same grace and very same Gospel given to all of God's people--past and present.

Depression is not a good, happy place. For many, melancholy, doubt and extreme guilt are daily thorns that saints fight to pry out until their death. For others, depression may be something that's "self-inflicted" and in need of some repentance. Be a blessing to the family of God and spend focused time hunting for manifestations of God's grace in the lives of your brothers and sisters in Jesus and celebrate them together! (Acts 11:23)  Invite others to do the same for you. Jesus did not die for sin to be meditated upon, He died so it could be recognized and repented of for the glory of the Gospel and the joy of His people.

Helpful reading on this topic:

You Can Change by Tim Chester

What is the Gospel by Greg Gilbert

A Lifting Up For The Downcast by William Bridge

Spiritual Depression by Martin Lloyd-Jones