My wife ran across something the other day that made sense to me. Often during tragedies or low spots in people's lives, someone will say "God will not give you more than you can handle." This is a misinterpretation of what the Bible actually says...which is: “there is no temptation …”
Even God the Father turned away at the moment of His Son’s death. Believing that God does not give more than we can handle only burdens the individual -already wracked with grief- a load of guilt- guilt that they are somehow not “strong enough” to handle the test that God has allowed them to face.
This way of thinking does not do justice to the loving God that I serve. Bad things DO happen- sometimes to good people. And we are not always strong enough to “handle” the pain. But that is OK—it does not make one less of a Christian. It is OK to ask God “why?” And I think that it is even OK to be frustrated with Him… He understands.
It is a sad thing for a parent to bury their child or worse, children. My heart goes out to these families. May God bless and keep them, may His face shine upon them, and be gracious and give them peace.
Joe, I hear you, If I had a dollar for every time someone has told me how God will not give us more then we can handle I'd be a rich girl.
In time I have learn to respond by saying that God gives me more then I can handle all the time, but He has never given me more then He can handle.
My heart breaks when I think of the parents and siblings, as well as the grandparents and friends of the kids.
It just doesn't make any sense to us does it? No words or explanations can bring life back.
I have really enjoyed watching my kids today as they go about their day, smiling and living life to the fullest. Stories such as these make me realize again that I am a richly blessed women, who needs to take more time appreciating the important things and less time stressing about the useless stuff.
Life will give us things we can not handle. At least things we cannot handle without God.
I well remember trying to quit smoking for 10 years. It definitly was something I could not do. However when I gave up and quietly wept to God I found he could deliver. When someone close dies we may have all kinds of feelings want to sweep over us. Even the feeling that God Hates us. Reactions can vary to almost any extreme with how people can and will react. And that too can change from Hour to Hour or Day to Day. This too is a good time to listen, to your friends, many people like to give advice but the truly wise listen and ask questions.
OS.. huh? Are you asking what it would take for a Christian to get to the stubborn point that Job was? Or are you asking what it would take for a Christian to get to the point of cursing God so they could die? If it's the second.. a lot of them already are doing that...
Sorry, I should have been more clear. It was the latter. Job refused his wife's suggestion and apparently was blessed for it. Now, if there are many christians today tempted and tormented to the point of cursing God; that is indeed a sad state of affairs. Did these people die?
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