Undoubtedly, we have all been there. Life's circumstances have completely consumed us and we feel like we just can't take anymore. Overwhelmed with our trials and the drudgery of day-to-day living, wondering when we will ever find relief, we despair of life itself. We never imagined that life would get so difficult or that our life's circumstances would be so unbearable, and we question how we can possibly go on. If you have ever been in this place, then you know from personal experience that the statement "God never gives us more than we can handle" simply isn't true. This widely touted cliche is rooted in a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which states that "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." This verse is speaking of temptations, not trials. In context of chapter 10, you plainly see that God is speaking of the Israelites "with [whom] most of them God was not pleased" (v. 5), and gives us the warning "that we might not desire evil as they did" (v. 6). Moreover, in speaking of the consequences for their sins, God says that "these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction...Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 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" (vv. 11-13). God has never said that He wouldn't give us more than we can handle. And He has never said that the trials we endure will be bearable. In fact, Scripture even attests to the fact that we can be burdened beyond our strength. Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:8: "For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself." So if God does allow us to endure more than we can handle, then how are we to handle life's unbearable circumstances? This is the big question! The answer is found in 2 Corinthians 1:9, the verse following Paul's confession that he and his fellow workers were burdened beyond their strength. Ponder closely what Paul says: "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." Do you see it? Paul says that as a result of being unable to endure, to the point of feeling that he "had received the sentence of death," he no longer relied on himself but learned to rely on God. This is exactly what we are called to do in our unbearable circumstances. No matter what we are going through, we can rely on God and trust in His strength and power to sustain us. Speaking of the thorn in his flesh, look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10: "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." When faced with the inevitable difficulties of life, Paul learned to rely on God's grace and strength and power to sustain and strengthen him. We can learn to do the same. With God as our all-sufficient source and supply of strength and power, we can endure all things. No matter what we are going through, the key to overcoming our burdensome circumstances is not trying to be strong in ourselves, but letting God's power and strength fill and empower us. No matter what trials are overwhelming you, "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might" (Ep. 6:10). God is bigger and stronger and mightier than anything you are facing, and you can trust Him to comfort, strengthen, and sustain you each and every day! In God's divine love, Peggy This reading is taken from my blog Divine Companionship, a blog about human suffering and God's presence with us in the midst of suffering. If you would like to read more of my blog posts, go to https://divinecompanionship.com and provide your email in the "subscribe" box to receive regular post updates.

You're Never Alone is a Bible study about suffering. It is best summarized as follows: “God, why does it hurt so much?” “Don’t You realize, God, that this hurts us?” “Don’t You care enough to stop the pain?” What does it mean to God when we experience pain and suffering? Is God uninvolved and insensitive to our hurting? In a broken, pain-filled world, these are certainly legitimate and reasonable questions that deserve a biblical response. So what you hold in your hands is a Bible study on suffering. As you explore the topic of suffering in these pages, you will be taken on a journey through the lives of Job, Jeremiah, Elijah, Hosea, John the Baptist and other New Testament characters, all of whom experienced similar yet different aspects of suffering, and emerged from their experiences with a more profound relationship with God and comforted in their faith. As you work through this Bible study, it is my hope and prayer that you will grow in wisdom and knowledge as you encounter the presence of God and learn about His “Divine Companionship” in the midst of suffering.

I was reading Romans 4 the other day and verse 18 jumped off the page at me. Ever have one of those moments? You know the Bible story or passage well - have read and studied it numerous times - and suddenly you see something you've never seen before. In telling of Abraham's faith regarding the promise of Isaac, Paul writes in Romans 4:18, "In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, 'So shall your offspring be.'" Did you see the magnificent statement "In hope he believed against hope"? Another way to say this is that even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway. Look at the story in context of Romans 4:18-21: 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. We can glean a lot of encouragement from this passage because all of us encounter seemingly hopeless situations. When Abraham considered his own body, which was as good as dead, and likewise Sarah's womb, his faith did not waver concerning God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. Notice that Abraham brought glory to God while he was waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. In spite of what seemed like a hopeless situation, Abraham was "fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised," and never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, while he waited his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. In hoping and waiting and believing, Abraham gave glory to God. No matter what trials or suffering we encounter in life, no matter how hopeless our situation may appear, God's promises are our confident hope. God is faithful. It is who He is. Whether it's a Bible verse that God gives us as a promise of hope for our situation, or a Scripture promise pertaining to our spiritual welfare, God will bring it to fulfillment. No promise of His has ever failed and cannot fail because of His honor and character. "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?" (Num. 23:19). Whether God's promises are related to time or eternity, to our physical life or spiritual well-being, God will bring them to completion. Because of all God is in Himself, He cannot go back on His Word or promises. No matter what you are going through, my friend, keep hoping and keep believing. Though the waiting is difficult, and often times very painful, don't give up! Lift up your heart to God, cry out to Him, and remain fully convinced that He is able to do what He has promised. Regardless of what is happening around you and what your circumstances tell you, hope against hope in our promise-keeping God! In God's divine love, Peggy This reading is taken from my blog Divine Companionship, a blog about human suffering and God's presence with us in the midst of suffering. If you would like to read more of my blog posts, go to https://divinecompanionship.com and provide your email in the "subscribe" box to receive regular post updates.