Living the Dream: Testing

Does God give us more than we can handle?

This is an often-heard question that relates to the idea of being tested by the Lord. It probably comes from familiarity with 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

This verse shows up in a passage where Paul is exploring the issue of idolatry and remaining faithful to the Lord in the face of competing false gods. This helps us to understand the nature of the temptation Paul refers to in v.13, which is anything that would compete for our worship/devotion to the Lord.

As we encounter various forms of temptation, and our faithfulness to the Lord is tested, Paul tells us that we can “endure” temptation because he provides “the way of escape.” So, to answer the original question stated above, God has promised that no temptation is too great for us to defeat, IF we resist it according to his “way of escape.” In other words, the temptation we encounter in our lives is in fact too great for us to handle in our own strength; but, as we learn to trust in the Lord’s strength, depending on him and not ourselves, we are promised that we can “endure” it.