2 CORINTHIANS 1:8-10 – For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.  Sooner or later, probably sooner, we are going to have a “Paul-experience” like in today’s scripture. The Apostle Paul was overwhelmed.  The language he used to describe himself is well, overwhelming – For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. Take some time and read his second letter to the Corinthians. In doing so, notice the periods of intense suffering that would cause him to feel overwhelmed in life (2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 6:4-10; 11:23-28; 12:7). It would be safe to say that the Lord gave the Apostle Paul more than he could handle in life.  Such will be true of us as well.

God is going to give us more than we can handle in life. Some trial, circumstance or situation is going to show us how weak we are, how insufficient we are, and how desperate we are for help outside ourselves. Yes, God will give us more than we can handle, but He will also give us something else.

Later in the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul described another experience he had; a trip to heaven.  And to keep pride from ruling him because of this unique period, he was given something that he could not handle on his own.  Here is what we read of it – So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me (2 Corinthians 12:7-8). A messenger of Satan.  That qualifies as something more than Paul and us can handle!  Yet, what follows is God’s provision.  Yes, He gives us more than we can handle in life at times, but He also gives us what we need – His grace and power so that through Him alone, we may actually handle more than we can handle to the praise of His glorious name.

So, the next time, and there will be a next time, God gives us more in life than we can handle, stop and thank Him because He also gives us what we need – His sufficient grace to handle more than we can handle.

PRAYER: “Father, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for my salvation and the working out of my salvation.”

QUOTE: “God will overwhelm us in life to show us we cannot do life without Him. That is a work of grace.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim