If we believe God has promised to not give us more than we can handle, and we feel overwhelmed, one may wonder if God cares or is actively involved in our lives. Let’s be honest. We can point to times in our life or the lives of others and seriously question if they have more than can be humanly handled. Is a child being abused daily supposed to believe somehow God is controlling their situation and letting them be abused, only to the degree they can handle it? Sometimes, people in an effort to comfort during tragedy say something like “God does not give us more than we can handle.” This may not always be terribly encouraging or helpful. When people are in a crisis we can’t go wrong listening, being slow to give advice or clichés, and lending a hand as needed.
God does not promise us we will not face extreme adversity, perhaps more than we think humanly possible at times. God has not promised we will not at times feel overwhelmed. It is critical we understand when God gave the world freedom, this meant sometimes people would be treated inhumanely. In many countries women and children are raped or have limbs cut off. God has given freedom in this world but vengeance is His in the long-run. Justice delayed does not mean justice will not be served. Christians in the New Testament were promised to expect extreme hardships for their beliefs.
What has God promised us? God has promised through our relationship with Him to empower us to handle any hardship that we may encounter. Paul writes “…we were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead (2 Cor 1: 8-9).” This last sentence does not mean God is the cause of suffering. Paul is saying sufferings can cause us to be dependent on God. Paul reminds us God has conquered death. Eternal life is His promise. God will never desert or forsake us in our present circumstances. The more we understand Him the more likely we are able to draw comfort and strength from Him in tragic times.
If we have an intimate, understandable relationship with God, we somehow will be able to handle any sickness or persecution that may come our way. During crises times if we can learn how to not blame God, we will be able to draw great strength from Him. God chose to suffer as we do by sacrificing His Son. He is a Creator who did not abandoned us when the world chose evil over good. Know and understand God completely, so to draw comfort from Him in the most difficult of times beyond human comprehension and ability to handle. God will never give us more than we can handle with His help.
What God May Really Be Like - Misbeliefs About God 