Will God really never give you more than you can handle?  Are there problems with this idea?  Today, Kent unpacks what the scripture says in a way that you can apply into your own life, right where you are! When you give at Harmony, you are investing in life change and are Advancing the Kingdom!  GIVE TODAY, text any amount to (859) 459-0316  to get started (or give online @ my.harmonychurch.cc/give .

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Sermon Notes Slide Key:

Sermons always start with “OPENING ILLUSTRATION:” and end with “CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:"All scriptures are NIV unless otherwise notedBold = Slide textBold Red = Scriptures (please reflect formatting of scripture on slides, i.e.  - underlines, italics, etc.)“b" or “B” on a line by itself = Slide break/New slideBold ALL CAPS WORDS = heading to be ignored[some text] = programming notes to be paid attention to

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: She lost her husband last year, she’s heartbroken, nothing seems right anymore, she tries to find joy, but can the grief is always right there at the door.  She’s working two jobs, trying to care for her high school boys the best she can, she’s worn out and feels at the end of her rope…

He lost his job due to supply chain issues and was told that for now at least, his position was no longer needed.  Pressure at home has left his relationship with his wife in shambles - they are sleeping in different rooms at this point and he’s pretty sure she will ask him to leave any day now.  His kids aren’t talking to him because for years he put everything else above them.  He’s tired of it all and can’t see any way out.

They have experienced more loss in the last year than anyone you’ve ever known.  They lost a child, his mother, and her father.  Then when it seemed like there couldn’t be any more, their brother and sister-in-law were in a tragic accident, and the whole family was lost.  How could life be this unfair?  What do you say?

That’s the question, right?  What do you say?

Maybe you’ve heard someone say this one to you when you are in the middle of these kinds of moments…

You walk up to the widow, to the jobless guy, to the grief-stricken family and you say this…

“It’s gonna be ok, because… God will never give you more than you can handle"

Let’s all take a moment real quick, do me a favor…  

Can I tell you something…

The bible DOESN’T say God will never give you more than you can handle.

[mind blown symbol]Actually, I would say this is one of those things that really good Christians - followers of Jesus believe that’s bad…

First, let’s talk about where the confusion comes from…

What the scripture ACTUALLY says is this…

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

What the scripture actually says is that when you are tempted, God is faithful and will provide a way out.

Paul’s point is that God is faithful.BOk, Kent, I get it, but

Why is, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” a problem?

ILLUSTRATION: I have to admit something to you, when I was growing up, I watched the movie Jaws and it ruined beaches for me.  When I’m out in the ocean with my kids, I’m constantly just watching the waves looking for a giant great white shark shadow to cross through…  I was starting to get over it and then we went shark fishing - they only went like 100 feet out past how far out we had been swimming and we were catching TONS of sharks…

Under the surface is where the danger lies.

God will never give you more than you can handle is kind of like God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear - but what’s under the surface is deadly…

BENEATH THE SURFACE:  When we say, “God will never give you more than you can handle” we are implying that Go