Handling

   I believe that the Lord allows our world to be shaken up to remind us that we don't make the rules. It's not a cruel game. It's not a form of punishment. It's a way to renew our minds. A way to condition our strength. 

Think of this passage in John 9.


"As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. "Rabbi." his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?"

"It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him." (1-3)

God gives us what we can't handle. Do you ever hear the familiar comfort saying, "God won't give you more than what you can handle"? Oh, that little saying that gives us an illusion that it's a bible verse.. You know what I'm talking about- you've probably said it too. I know that I have. 

*The actual verse is not referring to trials,  the saying is twisting a bible verse (1 Corin 10:13) that speaks of God not allowing the devil to tempt us with anything we can't handle. God will always give us a way out. He isn't here to trick us.

But I believe that God gives us what we can't handle. He does this so that we will lean on him and let him show us how to "handle" obstacles we face. He doesn't give us hardships so that we can learn to be independent. He doesn't want us to believe that we can handle life alone because that is a false perception. We simply can't. We have been mistaken in our drive for independence that we should be able to take care of ourselves in trials and direction. 

But yes, I believe that God does allow hard times. We get in the habit of blaming the devil for everything negative, but sometimes we just aren't looking at hard times in the correct light. 

We ask "why me?" and just want to sit and wait for a resolution. I know I'd rather skip everything in between. But this in between time is vital in shaping our hearts. 

   You know how they say, "no pain, no gain"? Well, think of it like that. After a while the struggles won't hurt. Not because we no longer care about them. Not because time has passed. But because we can simply lift the weight this time. God just has to have the room to train us to be strong enough. We have to be willing to clear the space for Him to do so.

He wants to grow our confidence in Him. He wants to deepen our understanding of Him. No, we actually can't handle a lot that He allows us to experience. But IN HIM, we are secure that He can and will overcome. Through that knowledge, we can handle our burdens because we know it will all be made good.

God wants our continual dependence on Him  and He wants our trust. If you're going through a hard time, I hope this encourages you.