So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 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. —1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NIV

Intro:

From birth to death, we have moments we can’t and were never intended to handle

.

Sometimes we assign

to Jesus for something he did not say.

When our beliefs are

, we can become defensive, offended, combative, or withdrawn.

We may fear that if

belief turns out not to be true that none of them are true.

Week 1:

Is it true that doubting is

?

Everyone including the most

Christians have doubt.

“My God, I have no faith… If there be God, please forgive me… I am told God loves me, and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great, nothing touches my soul.” —Mother Teresa

Doubt doesn’t

you from being blessed.

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus said to them… Go… make disciples of all nations…” —Matthew 28:16-19

Faith is moving forward with what God is calling you into even in the midst of your doubts.

Week 2:

Is it true that God

wants you to be happy? No, God wants more for you.

If I really believe that “God just wants me to be happy,” then whatever makes me happy must be

and whatever makes me unhappy must be

Reveal Answer

.

Holiness is the

to happiness.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” —St. Augustine of Hippo

This Week: Is It True That God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle?

1 Cor. 10:13 NIV

The scripture is warning about being

not about being overwhelmed. 1 Cor 10:11-12 MSG

When

come, God will provide the way out.

When

come that are more than you can handle, God calls others in to help.

“Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ…So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” —Galatians 6:1b-2, 9-10

The phrase “God won’t give you…” implies wrongly that God is the one

you. James 1:13

The phrase implies you’ve got

it takes in your own strength to face whatever comes your way.

“If God will never give us more than we can handle, then we can handle it. And therefore, we should handle it and we have enough energy and wisdom and ability to do it all on our own. The problem is God never said that.” —Paul Rasmussen

King

wrote about times of guilt and despair that were more than he could handle. Psalm 38:4, 8 NIV

Jesus took Peter, James, and John when the situation was too much to face

. Mark 14:32-34 NIV

From cradle to grave, we are created to

God and one another.

God never expected any of us to handle everything on our

.

God allows

that shows our limits, God’s power, and our need for one another. 2 Cor. 1:8-11a

“We face situations that truly are more than we can handle and that’s why we turn to others for help.” —Adam Hamilton

Action Steps:

When you are in a

, look for who God has placed around you who can help.

The next person you encounter who is struggling don’t say, “God won’t give you more than you can handle;” say, “How can we

?”

“My additional notes:

”.