You’ve probably heard the saying,

“God will never give you more than you can handle.”

I’ve heard it too.

But I’m learning something opposite of this cute saying.

The truth we find in scripture is this:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)

This tells me the very opposite of the encouraging words we often tell one another. Although Jesus offers peace in this passage, God’s Word also tells me that I will face problems in this world that are much harder than anything I could ever handle in my own strength. But the hope we find is that along with those problems, somehow we will have peace.

The problem most of us face
is not an absence of problems,
it’s the absence of peace.

So we know that while we follow God with all our hearts and serve Jesus with all our efforts, we are not immune from struggle. In fact, when we are following Jesus, the enemy will often target us in any way he can.

We will face what the Bible calls tribulations. This means life is not going to be a walk in the park on a breezy day with the perfect amount of sunshine peeking through the trees. It might be more like a hurricane with a broken umbrella and no place to hide.

We could live in the doom and gloom of knowing trials are coming or we can learn a different way of life.

This year has been one of the hardest years of my life. There have been mountains I never imagined climbing and valleys I never considered before.

 

But . . .

 

I’m learning to live in peace day by day. Life is going to be heavier than we think it should be. There might be hard days that you never anticipated. Dreams may break in pieces right within your own hands. And your heart might break too.

In this life of constant struggles, I’m learning how to walk through it without fear of the next big hit.

It’s not an earth shattering method of faith or a rise above the pain mentality.

The key to living in the
peace that passes understanding
is looking to Jesus
day by day.

On the mornings that you feel weak and worn out by all you are carrying – Look to Jesus!

On the afternoons when you don’t think you can take one more moment of chaos – Look to Jesus!

On the evenings when you collapse into bed and wonder how you will make it through another day – Look to Jesus!

If you are a realist, you might be asking,
“What does looking to Jesus even mean?”

It means:

You open God’s Word and expect God to speak to your heart personally.

You cry those tears and open your heart knowing God sees every pain.

You pray those prayers that you’ve prayed over and over and over again – AGAIN!

You write in that journal and deal with the feelings that you’ve pressed down for weeks, months, or years.

You remember your calling and your purpose that God once put on your heart and walk worthy in that calling.

You get out of bed, and step foot into a church. You let God walk with you there so you can meet other believers and be encouraged in your faith journey.

You let God do the heavy lifting of the burden as you take each day one step at a time.

You don’t pretend with God. He knows if you are hurting. So don’t act like you are fine if you aren’t fine.

You let God love you and give you new mercy for the day.

You let God’s Word penetrate your heart even when it evokes an emotional response.

You let God pick you up out of a pity party, and you make eye contact with Him even when it doesn’t feel comfortable.

Looking to Jesus isn’t always the comfortable thing to do,
but it’s the only way to deal with all this stuff we can’t handle alone.

God will give you more than you can handle and that is OK!

It doesn’t mean you are weak or living in sin.

It means you might be doing exactly what you are called to do.

When we raise up the banner of faith and we follow God will all our hearts, the enemy will aim for the most vulnerable place in our lives. When He strikes, it’s not time to crawl under a rock and hide.

It’s time to let God hide you!

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27:5(KJV)

It’s time to let God lift you up!

LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:1-5(KJV)

It’s time to keep looking to Jesus!

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Romans 12:2(KJV)

Let’s gather for a team huddle.

The game plan remains the same – Eyes on Jesus!
God will give you more than you can handle,
but He can always handle it.
Let Him!

Love & Blessings,

Micah