When another believer slogs through a series of difficult circumstances, do you ever try to encourage him or her by quoting 1 Corinthians 10:13, at least in part? You might say, "Don't worry, God never gives you more than you can handle!" Before you do this again, let me encourage you to consider whether or not this verse applies to the situation at hand.

God does give you more than you can handle - sometimes.

In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul said something that may surprise you. He said, "We were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." This means that as he served the Lord, he suffered some excruciating things. In fact, he described his suffering as overbearing, extraordinary, and far beyond his ability (or strength) to handle.

Why would God allow Paul to suffer this way? So that he would learn to trust in God and not on himself (2 Cor 1:9). As one man observes, "The roots of human pride grow deep, like those of the Acacia trees in the Serengeti desert, and they are not easily dislodged" [1].

For this reason, God may also permit you to suffer through some unfortunate and painful experiences. Just as he did with Paul, he teaches you to rely on him more firmly (especially through prayer). He does this so that he may deliver you more profoundly in the end, by his power alone (2 Cor 1:10). In this way, God does give you more than you can handle - sometimes.

God does not tempt you beyond what you can handle.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul taught something different from what he taught in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10. In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 he focused on general circumstances of life, but in 1 Corinthians 10:13 he focused on temptations to sin. So, while God may allow you to suffer through circumstances which are too difficult to handle, he will not allow you to face temptations which are too overwhelming to escape.

While God may allow you to suffer through circumstances which are too difficult to handle, he will not allow you to face temptations which are too overwhelming to escape.

According to 1 Corinthians 8-10, there were members in the church at Corinth who believed that their newfound freedom in Christ authorized them to flirt with disaster. Before Christ, they had worshiped pagan idols. Like everyone else, they had participated in wild feasts and festivals, which featured drunken revelry and sexual immorality.

As Christians, they now felt that they were "mature enough" to handle the temptations of their former lifestyle. They reasoned that they could attend these social events without succumbing themselves to the sins of drunkenness and immorality. Paul firmly objected to this approach. Peter likewise shared his concern (1 Pet 4:1-4).

Paul pointed out the foolishness of this behavior. He reminded them when they think they stand, they will fall (1 Cor 10:12). Such overconfidence is immaturity, not maturity, and it leads to failure.

Paul taught that God does not expose believers to temptations beyond what we can handle (1 Cor 10:13). Instead, he always provides a way out. When the opportunity to sin arises in the natural course of life, God always provides a way to escape from sinning. But he provides no such guarantees for those moments when we willfully, repeatedly, and unnecessarily subject ourselves to strong temptations.

When the opportunity to sin arises in the natural course of life, God always provides a way to escape from sinning.

In conclusion, we should find other ways to comfort suffering believers rather than quoting 1 Corinthians 10:13. After all, God does allow us to suffer through circumstances in life that are more than we can handle.

We should find other ways to comfort suffering believers rather than quoting 1 Corinthians 10:13.

We should turn to 1 Corinthians 10:13 instead to develop a mature strategy for overcoming temptations to sin. On one hand, it teaches us to avoid unnecessary situations that will strongly tempt us to sin. On the other hand, it teaches us to look for the way out from any temptation that comes our way in the normal course of daily life.

We should find comfort in knowing that unavoidable and unexpected temptations will never be so difficult that we cannot escape them somehow. For this God is faithful (1 Cor 10:13).

[1] David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 79.