“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)
We often hear people say, “God won’t give you more than you can bear.” Although those words are well-intentioned, they don’t exactly reflect what this Scripture says. First Corinthians 10:13 speaks specifically about temptation and God’s faithfulness in providing a way for us to endure it. It does not promise we will never face circumstances that feel too heavy to carry.
And if we have lived long enough, most of us know what it feels like to reach that place.
Have you ever walked through a season of life and wondered how you would make it to the other side? Have you experienced a loss, a disappointment, or a series of hardships that seemed to come one after another? Perhaps you have found yourself smiling in public while privately trying to hold yourself together.
Sometimes life happens in ways we never could have prepared for. And sometimes, the very things we are trying to survive are the things we never imagined we would have to face.
Simple Questions And Difficult Answers
A few years ago, I sat with a friend visiting from Chicago. We met at a little bistro in Washington, D.C., where we enjoyed coffee, a gentle autumn breeze, and the kind of conversation that nourishes your soul. I have always loved meaningful conversations. I enjoy going beyond the surface and creating space for people to share what is really happening in their lives.
That day, our conversation turned to writing a book. My husband, who has encouraged me for years to write, reminded me again of something I had carried in my heart for a long time.
Then came the question: “Why haven’t you written a book?”
It was a simple question, but my answer was anything but simple.
As I sat there, I began to put words to something I had been carrying for a long time.
“Grief is exhausting,” I said. “I guess I haven’t written anything because I have felt powerless.”
As soon as I said the word powerless, I felt its weight. My eyes filled with tears, and I realized how much pain I had been carrying beneath the surface.
Over the years, my husband and I have experienced seasons of deep disappointment, uncertainty, and loss. We navigated financial struggles early in our marriage. We experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage. My father suffered a stroke that changed his life and affected our family in profound ways. We faced difficult family circumstances, continued serving in ministry, earned my master’s degree, and welcomed our precious daughter into the world during a season when so much was happening around us.
There were beautiful moments, and there were heartbreaking ones. Prayers were answered, unexpected challenges arose, new beginnings began, and losses changed me forever.
And eventually, I had to say goodbye to my dad.
Losing him has been another chapter in my journey through grief. His absence reminds me that life keeps moving, even when our hearts need more time to catch up. Grief does not always announce itself. Sometimes it shows up in a memory, a familiar moment, a conversation you wish you could have one more time, or the realization that someone you love is no longer here to call.
Grief has a way of reaching into places you didn’t even realize were hurting.
Through all of this, I have continued to believe that God is faithful. I believe His Word when it says He will never leave us nor forsake us. I believe He is our strength when we are weak. I love the Lord, and my faith in Him remains the foundation of my life.
But I have also learned that loving God does not mean we will never experience sorrow. Faith does not make us immune to grief. Trusting God doesn’t mean we will never feel overwhelmed, and serving Him doesn’t mean we must pretend everything is okay.
Faith In The Broken Places
Sometimes, faith looks less like having everything together and more like bringing the broken pieces to God. I have learned that I can trust God and still cry. I can believe His promises and still miss my dad. I can be grateful for the blessings in my life and still acknowledge the pain of what I have lost. Those things can coexist.
And perhaps you need that reminder today, too.
WHEN LIFE FEELS LIKE MORE THAN YOU CAN BEAR, TURN TO THE ONE WHO CAN CARRY YOU THROUGH IT.
1 Peter 5:7 reminds us to cast all our cares upon Him because He cares for us. Matthew 11:28–30 invites us to come to Jesus when we are weary and burdened and to find rest for our souls.
Notice that Jesus does not tell the weary to get themselves together before coming to Him. He invites them to come as they are.
We do not have to wait until our tears stop falling, our questions are answered, or our circumstances improve before we lean on Him. We can come to Him in the middle of the mess, the unanswered questions, and our grief.
When I feel powerless, I have to remind myself that I was never meant to rely on my own strength alone. Some circumstances I cannot change, some losses I cannot undo, and some questions I may never receive answers to on this side of eternity. But I can choose to bring those things to the One whose strength is not limited by my weakness.
