“Don’t worry, God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Have you ever heard this phrase?  This statement is meant to be comforting and a reminder that we’re strong enough to handle life’s hardest challenges. 

But here’s the surprising part: This phrase isn’t actually found in the Bible. The message of Scripture often suggests the opposite — that God may allow us to face situations far beyond our own strength. 

We see this truth echoed in Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, where he describes a time of overwhelming hardship. Paul writes to the Corinthian church, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death” (NIV).   

This is a far cry from the statement “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Here, Paul admits that he faced trials far beyond his own endurance — circumstances so dire that he couldn’t see a way out and even despaired of life itself. 

If “God won’t give you more than you can handle” isn’t a biblical promise, where does this idea come from, and what’s the real message we can take from Scripture?

The Origins Of This Misunderstanding

The phrase is likely a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, where Paul writes, “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” (NIV). In this verse, Paul assures believers that God will not let them be tempted beyond their ability to resist; He will provide a way out of temptation.

But it’s crucial to recognize that this passage is about temptation, not life’s burdens and suffering. While God promises to help us resist temptation, He never promises that life’s challenges will always be manageable on our own. The Bible speaks repeatedly about believers facing challenges beyond their own strength, ultimately driving them to rely on God rather than themselves.

Beyond What We Can Handle

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul’s words are both honest and deeply encouraging because they show us that we’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed. Paul, one of the most devoted followers of Christ, faced pressures so intense he felt as though he was under a “sentence of death.” This wasn’t something he could handle by himself, and that’s precisely the point. He continues, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9b, NIV). 

Here, Paul highlights a fundamental biblical truth: God sometimes allows us to face situations beyond our own strength precisely to teach us to depend on His power, not ours. In those moments of overwhelming pressure, God invites us to lean into His strength and comfort and shows us that He is strong when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Why God Allows Us to Face More Than We Can Handle

1. To Teach Dependence on Him

Paul’s experience shows that our greatest struggles can serve a purpose — they can strip away our illusions of self-sufficiency and teach us to depend on God. When we’re at the end of our strength, we’re often most ready to surrender and seek God’s help. This isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a demonstration of faith. Recognizing our own limitations can be one of the most powerful ways to experience God’s sufficiency.

2. To Experience God’s Power in Our Weakness

God’s strength shines most clearly when we acknowledge our weakness. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul speaks of a “thorn in my flesh,” a trial that he begged God to take away. But God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). Paul then declares, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10b, NIV). Far from promising to remove every hardship, God promises to give us His strength to endure and even thrive amidst those hardships. 

3. To Reveal His Glory

When God carries us through situations we couldn’t handle on our own, it brings glory to Him, not us. Those around us see the difference that faith makes when they witness God sustaining us in seemingly impossible circumstances. Our reliance on God in the darkest times becomes a testimony to His goodness and power.

What We Can Say Instead

If “God won’t give you more than you can handle” isn’t biblical, then what can we say to encourage one another in times of struggle? 

God will be with you through whatever you face. In Isaiah 43:2a (NIV), God promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” He doesn’t promise a life free from hardship, but He does promise His presence.

God will give you strength. In Psalm 46:1 (NIV), we’re reminded that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” God’s strength is available to us, especially when we feel weak. 

God will work through your trials for good. Romans 8:28 (NIV) assures us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Even when our circumstances feel impossible, we can trust that God is working for our ultimate good. 

Finding True Comfort in God’s Promises

It’s comforting to know that God doesn’t expect us to be strong on our own. He doesn’t demand that we “handle” everything that comes our way. Instead, He invites us to come to Him with our burdens and trust Him to provide the strength we lack. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28,30 (NIV), “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest … For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Our faith isn’t about our ability to handle life’s trials; it’s about resting in God’s strength when we’re at the end of our own.

The next time someone tells you, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” you can gently remind them of the deeper truth: God allows us to face more than we can handle so that we can learn to rely on Him. This isn’t a call to self-reliance; it’s an invitation to surrender, to lean on the One who can handle anything and everything. In doing so, we find true peace and strength — not in ourselves, but in the God who is always faithful. 

This article was originally titled “More Than You Can Handle” in the May 2025 issue of Peer Magazine.