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BIG PICTURE: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” It sounds encouraging. Like many half-truths, they appear to be truth from the Bible, yet it’s not quite the intended message. God’s plan in your life is not to overwhelm you with stressful events and then rescue you at the last moment. The good news is that he promises to be with you through the tough times of life and to help you through.

TEXTS: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Psalm 46:1-2; Romans 8:35, 37-38

KEY VERSE: God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart. – Psalm 46:1-2a

LET’S LOOK AT THE TEXT

…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 10:13

, ,

Temptations in the town:

and immorality.

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 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 10:6-13

God makes a way for

from temptation. We need to look for it.

WHAT ABOUT THIS SAYING?

It’s a misunderstanding of who

is and who are.

God isn’t in the business of

bad things in your life.

THE GOOD NEWS

Life routinely is

.

God is our refuge and strength,
a help always near in times of great trouble. That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart. —Psalm 46:1-2a

The worst thing you can imagine in your life will not have the

word.

God will help you

all that you’ve been given.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —1 Corinthians 10:35, 37-39

NEXT STEPS: What are things you’re tempted by? What escape routes has God provided? How does looking at this saying from a different perspective offer hope to a person? Who might you know who is struggling that God may be leading you to help?