One of my favorite parts about having installed various WordPress statistics plugins is being able to see how people end up on Timothy’s Burden. From the referral logs, I can not only keep up with other sites which may be linking to me but also with what people are searching for that leads them here. Some of the searches seem pretty common, and I’m impressed that Timothy’s Burden registers on the radar for them; other searches make me question just how in the world a search engine (most often Google or one of its international sites) would associate my site with that term, so I run the same search myself and sure enough there’s my site.
But I wonder if those people who are clicking over to Timothy’s Burden from their search results are actually finding what they wanted to find. So I came up with the idea of responding to my search referrals. Not only will it help future searchers find the right material if the same terms are used, but it will provide me with virtually unending topics to write about.
What does any of that have to do with the title of this post? “Bible verse that says God will never give us more than we can handle” is the first search result I’m going to reply to.
It should be noted that a page which provided that verse was given in the results (on the first page, even). However, that is one of my more controversial (and most often stumbled upon) messages, and the verse in question was only noted in passing.
So without further ado, what is the Bible verse that says God will never give us more than we can handle?
There isn’t one! What? Wait, what about… ? Nope, that’s different. To the best of my knowledge and searching, I cannot find a verse of the Bible which states that God will not give us more than we can handle. Sorry to disappoint.
So what verse was this searcher probably thinking of? Getting inside searchers’ minds can be an amusing pasttime. One of the earliest activities I was ever introduced to online was on the MetaCrawler MetaSpy. Back then, it was a text list that continually reloaded, if I recall correctly. Now it’s a fancy vertical Flash marquee. But the point of it is the same: Looking in at what the world is searching for can yield some fascinating insights into the mind of man.
Anyway, back on topic… What verse was probably being referenced? First Corinthians 10:13! It certainly doesn’t say that God will not give us more than we can handle, but it does give us the extraordinary promise that God will never allow us to be tempted more than we can handle and that He will always provide a way of escape. And in light of this truth that temptation is never too strong and that there is always a way out, Paul admonishes the Corinthians to flee from idolatry, one of the easiest sins to fall into. How reassuring the thought of a means of escape made by God Himself when charged to flee from such a sin as idolatry! It’s no wonder Paul placed the promise before the admonition.
So, to answer the revised search, “Bible verse that says God will never allow us to be tempted more than we can handle,” here is 1 Corinthians 10:13 as rendered in a variety of versions.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. New King James Version
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. King James Version
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it. New American Standard Bible
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it. New International Version
No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man’s nature; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able to bear, but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that ye should be able to bear it. Darby’s Translation
No temptation hath taken you–except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear it. Young’s Literal Translation
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Heh. This is a good idea. Now I just need to respond to all those searches coming in from MSN for Su Do Ku. I would disagree on one minor point though, unless I’m exegeting this verse incorrectly (and frankly, that’s very possible) it seems to me that Paul is saying that there will always be a way to bear through the temptation, not that there will always be a way out. I say that to emphasize that sometimes there’s not a way out or a way of escape and we’re forced for one reason or another to bear through the temptation. Again, I don’t know that I’m 100% correct. What do you think?
Ben: I guess it depends on what one expects as an escape. The temptation in question is certainly temptation to sin, and we know from James 1:13 that the Lord is never the source of such temptations. (Okay, that isn’t really pertinent to the question you asked, but I wanted to include it in the original post but forgot, so I’m sneaking it in here.)
We also know from 2 Peter 3:9 that the Lord knows how to deliver the godly from temptations, which because the Lord is all-wise is rather obvious. And lastly, we’re instructed to pray in such a manner as asking to not be led into temptation in the first place (Matthew 6:13).
But when we do face temptation, what can we do? Circumstances may not always allow us to flee, as Joseph did from Potiphar’s wife. If there is always an escape, what is it? You mentioned having to bear through the temptation, and the verse (1 Cor. 10:13) does mention that. The idea of escape and endurance is joined together, though. God provides a means of escape so that we may endure it. I probably should have touched on that more above. God does not promise a blink-of-an-eye, poof-and-you’re-elsewhere escape from sin, but rather the escape He provides involves enabling us to bear through the temptation, to face it without giving into it.
I would suppose Jesus epitomized this when He resisted temptation thrice in the wilderness. His escape which allowed Him to bear through each of them was the word of God.
I could also see the giving of more faith, the granting of wisdom, and other such things as gifts from God during times of temptation which would allow us to bear through them.
And I’m a little bit in awe that you’re so high in MSN’s results list for Su Do Ku! With the popularity of that puzzle, such a ranking in the search engines is quite a feat. :)
I don’t have allot to say, but i came across this site after a Google search for “bible verse never give up”. Before you ask, do a Google image search for “Never Give Up”, and you will find a great picture of a frog chocking a water bird trying to it him. Very amusing.
And so I’m kind of on topic, Through God we can resist temptation, but remember, its not God who puts as through sitchuations we cant handle. He gives us strength to handle the sitchuatoin when we’re in trouble, if we accept His guidents. Not sure if that made sense…did to me.
Kurt
Thanks for the easy find! keep up the good work.
I came upon this webpage while I was searching for the verse in the Bible which says that things will not always be this way. I was not successful in finding that verse, however I found this page most inspiring. Maybe you could be kind enough to locate that verse I was trying to find? Thanks :)
A key verse, found in Romans 8:37 states “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
The answer to ‘how’ is THROUGH HIM. If you don’t have faith in Jesus Christ, then understanding how to handle trials is probably not going to make sense. When individual’s have faith only in themselves, answers and comfort fall short. Man cannot handle life sucessfully without Faith in Jesus Christ the Son, the only person God and human.
You’re really suggesting that all non-Christians are maladjusted, unable to handle the things life throws at them?
Perhaps that’s why if there’s someone complaining about circumstances on my Facebook feed, their religion is most often set to “Christian” or some variety thereof.
Perhaps that’s why since I’ve accepted atheism, I’ve found it easier to be joyful, without all the baggage of wondering about circumstances and how they fit into a god’s plan.
Sure, the Bible makes it seem like a life apart from God (whatever his name is) isn’t really worth living, but that’s not at all how life plays out in the real world.
Thank you for this post. I searched this to prove the same point. :)
You’re welcome. Curiously enough, this is the most popular post on this site by a huge margin. It’s amazing how many people search Google for this stuff.
Hi Rick. The verse that answers this question for me is (1 Corinthians 10:13). Try it!
I have been writing a paper on the subject of sin and the acts of Free Will. What a topic let me tell you. I was using the internet to find verses ( I know just use a concordance) and yours popped up and was a great help. Thank You.
“Sure, the Bible makes it seem like a life apart from God (whatever his name is) isn’t really worth living, but that’s not at all how life plays out in the real world.”
The real world as in the life we lead here on Earth? This is not the “real world.” This is not the end. It is what happens after our time here on Earth. This is but a blink of an eye. In the end is our beginning.
I think we are all given an escape out of circumstances of temptation we think we cannot handle. He gives us that, but whether we choose to utilize the escape route is up to us. The closer you become to God, I think the easier it is to know which path to take, and to trust and stand by the decisions you’ve made.
LK — This is very much the “real world”; it’s the only world we’ve got, the only one we’ll experience. (If there is something after this life, there is no evidence of it, and thus no reason to live this life in anticipation of it.)
Unless you’ve proven the existence of another dimension wherein our consciousnesses take up residence after our bodies die, then you have embraced superstition and are very likely missing out on the joys and experiences which this one life affords us.
I’m searching for the exact Bible passage, but it seems there is none. So, does this mean that such a passage is but an interpretation of people on 1 Corinthians 10:13?
So, the Bible really did not say that God would not give us challenges that we cannot handle. That is just sad.
Unfortunately, there is no where in the Bible that says God will never gives us more than we can handle. It would be very comforting if it did, but it doesn’t. Although, even though you said, “That is just sad,” I don’t know why you say that because Romans 6:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ”
Therefore, even if God does give you more than you can handle, He will always be with you (Hebrews 13:5) especially in the hard times (Psalm 23:4).
So don’t worry about facing hard times alone. By the way, a little bit of Bible trivia: Did you know that God directly says “Do not [be afraid/fear] 365 times? He really means it and He will stand by you.
“If there is something after this life, there is no evidence of it, and thus no reason to live this life in anticipation of it.”
Rick, it’s called FAITH…Christians don’t need EVIDENCE. I will pray that God will change your heart before you leave this earth.
It takes a lot more faith to believe there is no god and there is plenty of evidence in the truth of that.
This life is real. His joy, blessings and grace abound in it. And it is but a vapor in “time”. The life beyond is even more real as it will last forever. Our choices in this life will carry consequences in the next.
We are all made up of flesh, soul and spirit. We have to begin to understand that before the next revelation can be understood.