You’ve probably heard – or maybe you’ve even said – “God will never give me more than I can handle.” Sounds really good but there’s just one problem. The Bible doesn’t teach that.
Many people point to 1 Corinthians 10:13 to back up this “Christian teaching.” But is that what Paul meant when he wrote: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear?” Let’s pull back and look at this sentence in the context of the larger passage to find out what Paul was talking about. (See this post for more information on “biblical context.) The context, the topic of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 is temptation and being prepared to resist it. Keep reading to discover the real promise found in verse 13.
At the end of chapter 9, Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth to practice strict spiritual discipline like he did. Take note of the “for” in 1 Corinthians 10:1 (NIV). Paul wanted them to be self-disciplined. He did not want them to follow the bad example of Israel in the wilderness who gave into temptation and disobeyed God. Because of their disobedience that generation died in the desert and never entered the promised land. Their story was recorded as a warning for the Corinthians and for us (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The Real Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13
Then in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Paul elaborates on what we should do instead of giving into temptation and falling into sin. Here are three truth points for us from this passage:
- Thinking we are too strong to fall into sin makes us vulnerable. We must keep up our guard.
- No temptation will come our way that hasn’t already been part of the human experience. We won’t be tempted with something “new” or “unusual.”
- God is faithful. He will not allow any temptation to come our way that is too great for us to resist. He will always provide a way for us to say no and the strength to bear up under the pull of sin.
Okay, did you see that? Number 3 is the real promise of verse 13. God will never allow us to be tempted to sin beyond what we can resist.Â
God Does Give Us More than We Can Handle
So what about this question: “Does God ever give us more hardship than we can handle?” The short answer is “yes.” But let’s turn to another one of Paul’s letters for a more in-depth explanation.
In his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul wrote about hardships he experienced in Asia:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2Â Corinthians 1:8-9, NIV
The same biblical author that wrote 1 Corinthians 10:13 also wrote 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. Paul knew that God would allow him to experience more hardship than he could bear. He had lived it. He had pressure in
Asia that was far beyond his ability to endure.
Why? Why did God allow Paul – and why does God allow us – to experience trials and difficulties, grief and pain, more than we can bear? So that we will rely on God and not on our own strength and power.
Hear Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:10:
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV
When we are unable to deliver ourselves, God is able. When we are unable to stand up under the pressure, it will be God’s strength in us.
No, God does not promise that He will never give us more than we can handle. Instead, He holds out His hand and tells us to lean on Him.
Have you ever misunderstood the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13? What comfort can you take in the real promise?
Thank you, Kathy. What a timely article, and I pray that it will bless others as much as it has blessed me. For me, you’ve brought even more clarity on this subject. I’m so glad that I discovered your site. Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Joyce
Hi Joyce, glad you found me and glad you were encouraged by the post!
This has been a verse that I can remember sometime ago havibf to qoute whenever I was under pressure or in a situation where I may be tempted to fall into something5
Thanks John, it is definitely one to hide in our hearts!
I woke with the word
Overtaken
Then I remember the verse.
I’ve searching why I failed out of a nursing program & my daughter has declared independence & has decided not to come home during 3rd year college
I feel like dying
I ask God, can I die now?
I can’t take all this pain; I’m in so much despair
I don’t know what God wants
All along, i felt Gods presence thro my nursing courses, felt His leading. However things didn’t turn out. Now I’m applying to another nursing school & waiting for acceptance
Rosie, I am lifting a prayer for you to the Lord right now. May He comfort and encourage you with His presence and give you clear guidance for the days ahead. As I read your comment, a passage in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 came to mind. Paul wrote about an experience he had in Asia where he “despaired of life itself.” The circumstances were so desperate he didn’t think he was going to survive. But God delivered him. Reflecting back on that time, Paul wrote: “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 again” (2 Corinthians 1:8-10).
I don’t know all the specifics of your situation, but I do know that God is able to fulfill His will for our life no matter the seeming obstacles. I do know that He wants you to learn to rely on Him. May God show you how He is working today!
Yes thank you Kathy. My husband has ALS and is on a ventilator and people quote this scripture all the time to us.
I am so sorry about what you and your husband are going through. Sometimes this fallen world brings us overwhelming struggles and heartache. And yes, many times, they are indeed more than we can handle. But, praise God, for those who know Jesus, ALS – and other struggles that are not fixed in this life – will NOT have the last word! This life is merely a gateway into eternity, into our real and abundant life. I pray God will reveal His strength in your weakness and will pour out His grace in lavish abundance to you and your husband.
Dear Kathy
Thank you so much for providing clarity of the issue of temptation and how we can go about handling it. For many years I have suffered from temptation but never discovered how to fight even though I use to read the Word. Keep up the good work, you surely a blessing to many.
Sincerely
Albert
Albert, thanks for stopping by! I’m glad the post encouraged you!
Are you saying that our struggles are normal as believers?
Hi Stephen! the Bible tells us to expect difficulties and struggles in life. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Paul said that anyone who lives a godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter, James, and Paul all tell us how God will work in our lives “when” we have trouble (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5). Sometimes these troubles are the kind of things that come with a fallen world, like illness. Sometimes these struggles are the result of our living for Jesus. But God will work in them all for our good and His glory!
Thank you for sharing the real promise of God’s Word!!! As I meditated on your article, I realized that if God didn’t give us more than we can handle, He wouldn’t be able to show us His great power!! And we would think in our minds that we don’t need Him. As Christians, we really really need to stop listening to/believing “old Christian cliches” , and start reading, studying God’s Word for ourselves!! And sharing His truth!! Thanks again!!
What about “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” is this biblical? I can’t wait for God to show me a purpose in all that I have endured the last 5 years, and it is truely a testimate to his power that I am alive and breathing but I for sure couldn’t handle it, and it didn’t make me stronger, but I would like to ask you for prayers to mend my broken family and give us peace in Jesus name. Thank you so much.
I did find it intersting that the scripture must specify that you won’t be given any temptation that is too much to bare, anything unusual or unexpected, because I have no idea what would be considered a tempatation that isn’t a normal one in life. And he promises this to US his children, so are those that are not chosen experiencing such temptations? Hmmm…I draw a blank there. With all the things that my eyes have been opened to the last few years, it is almost a relief that there is some sort of evil that let’s me feel ignorant to it. I wish I was still given the gift of being naive.
Jennifer, I am so sorry for your trials and struggles. May God give you the strength, wisdom, and guidance to stand strong and glorify Him in the process. Although the phrase, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” is not in the Bible, it does reflect some spiritual truth. Scripture is clear that God works in and through our trials to develop our character and refine our faith, making us more and more like Jesus. (See James 1:2-4, Romans 5:1-5, and 1 Peter 1:3-7.) You said you don’t see growth from what you have experienced. It may simply be that you don’t yet recognize the spiritual growth. Sometimes we miss it if we’re looking for things the world values. Often God wants to instill characteristics in us that the world doesn’t consider to be “strong” characteristics like humility and selflessness.
As far as 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul merely wants us to realize that no temptation will come our way that mankind does not deal with regularly. We will have no excuses for yielding to temptation. We can’t say, “Now, God, that temptation was really unusual. Surely You won’t hold me accountable for saying yes to that!” Anyone who is a Christian – who has a saving relationship with Jesus – has the Holy Spirit living with us. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is living within us! We have the power to say “no” to sin. There will always be a way open for us to turn away from sin. The temptation will never be so powerful that we can’t resist. However, a non-Christian does not have the Holy Spirit. They will definitely experience the same temptations, but they do not have the same strength or the same promise of a way out from God.
I hope this helps Jennifer!
hi ms. kathy thank you for reminding me about God’s promise….
it really means a lot to me…thank you for your sharing about Gods word it encourage me a lot..It helps me in my christian living..God bless..i hope theres a lot of people will realize something about God through this..More God’s blessing to your family..
I was searching 1 Corinthans 10:13.. about resisting temptation not about bearing all the pain some of us,.or even most us bear and came across your explanation. Thank you. Lisa
Thank you Lisa for coming by!
Hi, thanks for this article, but it’s hard for me to overcome perfectionism and it’s crippling me with anxiety. I feel like I should not fall into temptation because of this verse and it causes a lot of guilt when I do sin. Do you think it’s a call to perfection? I know that other verses in the Bible say that without God, humans fall short. But, I still feel like I’m falling short, even as a Christian. What are your thoughts?
Hi Steve, thanks for coming by. Here are a few thoughts: First, temptation itself is not sin. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are and yet was without sin. It is the yielding to temptation that is sin. The passage in 1 Corinthians promises that God will always provide a way for us to say “no” to temptation. He will give us the power to resist. But as imperfect, sinful humans we will not always take that way out He provides. Because we are not yet perfected. That is a lifetime journey that won’t be completed until we see Jesus face to face. But every believer is being transformed from “glory to glory” the Spirit is making us incrementally more like Jesus. Yes, God calls us to holiness, but at the same time He provides forgiveness when we fall short. Praise God!
Thanks for the response, it’s helpful in understanding the meaning and context of this 🙂
Great clarification… God bless!