Way More Than We Can Handle

Because that’s where spiritual life really starts

Let me start by sharing this from the ancient text of Joshua.

“For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:23-24

Unlike the picture above, there was no bridge to cross the Jordan river, a river swollen and overflowing the banks at the time the children of Israel crossed over. There wasn’t a line to hold on to, in fact there was nothing — on purpose. Why? Because God DRIED UP the torrential flood. He didn’t build a bridge, he didn’t have them “test their strength” against the river with just a little help — by his presence he completely CHANGED the situation and provided a way for the nation about to cross over (and cross over into their promise — their inheritance), with the intent to once again helping his children to understand something:

Where it’s impossible for us — it’s always possible for God.

And that is where life in the Spirit really starts.

I read an aphorisim earlier today that says “God never gives you more than you can handle.” — and to any Christian, we should read that statement and immediately, completely identify it as being anti-Christ. The truth, is that God is in the business of giving us more than we can handle because his purpose (as it was with the children of Israel) is to expose our weakness so that we can see his strength!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says this

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

A life of walking with the Holy Spirit of God is not one of our “bearing up under our burdens,” it’s the opposite! Here’s what Jesus said

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30

Our only labor (re: burden), should be to enter God’s rest. It’s there, where his strength is made perfect in our weakness, that we see the amazing and faithful hand of the Almighty. It’s there that he provides his strength to hold us up. It’s there that his name is glorified. It’s there that others can see God’s strength and his glory. And that’s the point.

Real life in the Spirit of God comes not when we have strength, but when we reach the end of our strength (knowledge, understanding, cleverness, ingenuity, and so on) and the next step we take is the one into the raging river and we see the amazing provision of our God.

“Fear not little flock, for your father rejoices in giving you the kingdom.” Matt 3:1

To inherit that kingdom, we just need to accept that life really starts when God’s given us way more than we can handle.