When You’re Given More Than You Can Handle by Lea Turner

by Rachael Adams | Feb 2, 2023 | The Love Offering Guest Blog Series

“The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 1King 19:7 (NIV)

“God won’t give you more than you can handle,” was muttered to me as I poured out my heart to a friend.

Struggle and suffering had taken me under, and I was beyond tired of running on empty. My praying and trying only led to more disappointment and heartache. Finally, at the end of most days, I collapsed into bed with nothing else to give. It seemed as if my life was out of control, and I wanted to scream, “Enough, Lord.”

Have you ever felt like this? Life feels like a series of one-hundred-mile days you’re trying to complete with a tank on empty. We feel buried in frustration and defeat from the unanswered prayers and disappointments, causing weariness and exhaustion to plague us.

The words, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” are thrown at me as a life preserver in hopes of saving me from my circumstances. But, as much as we want these words to bring comfort, they’re not Biblical. More times than I can count, I have experienced more than I can handle, despite my best efforts. I found myself with nothing left to give because the truth is God does give us more than we can handle so we can experience more of Him.

Take the prophet Elijah for example, who, in the book of 1 Kings chapter 19, is discouraged and disappointed to the point of wanting to die. Elijah commanded and defeated the prophets of Baal, expecting Ahab, Jezebel, and the Israelites to come to their senses and turn from their wickedness, but instead, Jezebel wanted him dead. So, Elijah ran for his life, leaving everyone behind, including his servant. Finally, in exhaustion, he collapsed under a bush, saying, “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4).

Elijah fell asleep and was awakened by an angel telling him to “Get up and eat” (vs. 5). He ate and drank and fell asleep again. “The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. So, he got up and ate and drank” (1 King 19:7-8).

Through Elijah’s story, we see God provided in his darkest moment. There was no rebuke, guilt trip, or work harder lecture, only compassion. Friend, the application is simple: we must eat and rest and allow others to do the same. Life can be hard and rather than share empty phrases, we need people, and we need to be people who provide nourishment for the body and soul. And perhaps God allows us a life far more than we can handle because it’s in these moments that God shows up and invites us to enter each other’s suffering.

About the Author:

LEA TURNER is a wife and mother of five, three who grew in her belly and two in her heart through adoption. She is on a journey of resting fully in the love of the Father by letting go of striving and walking fully in her identity. She has a passion to inspire others to work from a place of rest rather then strive from a place of anxiety. Lea blogs at LeaTurner.com.