We all know the saying, “God will never give me more than I can handle.” While there is definitely comfort in this statement, if taken too literally, the “I can handle” may present some challenges, especially if we believe that we are going to have to face the difficulties on our own.
I admit that I was one of those literal people. There were many times when I found myself knee-deep in problems and wondered if maybe I wasn’t one of the lucky ones who was going to get all the strength I needed. It never dawned on me that I was completely taking this statement out of context. Perhaps everyone else understood this concept earlier on in life, but I really believed that the “I” meant only “me”; somehow I was going to be given the strength, but I would need to do it alone. It wasn’t until recently that I finally figured out the “I” might not include “me” at all! The “I” might actually be other people in my life. This realization is incredibly freeing and allows me the necessary time and space to deal with the emotions that might surround the challenge. I no longer feel that I have to create some sort of strong outer shell to get through it. I can, and will, rely on others.
So, is this as simple as being humble enough to ask for help when we need it? Maybe. Or is the real question whether we are willing to step aside when it is clear someone else can take the lead? To me, the latter is more difficult, but in some cases necessary. While we have our own personal challenges, we can feel confident that God will never give us more than we can handle - sometimes we just need to rely on a few other people.
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