More Than You Can Handle?

I have a little pet peeve about the phrase, "God won't give you more than you can handle." I have often had more than "I" could handle.  So I have a sign on my wall that says, "God doesn't give us what we can handle; He helps us handle what we are given".  I guess I like to be precise.

I read this in Streams in the Desert, and felt it very much describes the point here:
     Why should God have to lead us thus, and allow the pressure to be so hard and constant? Well, in the first place, it shows His all-sufficient strength and grace much better than if we were exempt from pressure and trial. "The treasure is in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
     It makes us more conscious of our dependence upon Him. God is constantly trying to teach us our dependence, and to hold us absolutely in His hand and hanging upon His care.
     This was the place where Jesus Himself stood and where He wants us to stand, not with self-constituted strength, but with a hand ever leaning upon His, and a trust that dare not take one step alone. It teaches us trust.
     There is no way of learning faith except by trial. It is God's school of faith, and it is far better for us to learn to trust God than to enjoy life.
     The lesson of faith once learned, is an everlasting acquisition and an eternal fortune made; and without trust even riches will leave us poor. (FROM DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH) [END QUOTE]

"For this light and momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV)

God is good...all the time! And He is very gentle and intentional in His ways, just like a potter with clay. Without the pressure of the Potter's hands, the clay would be merely a lump! Not only is He preparing me for works on this earth, He is preparing me for His eternal kingdom! This life is extremely short, but eternity is forever. I want to live in light of eternity. I am learning to trust. I am also learning that the joy He gives me is so much richer than the fleeting enjoyment the world has to offer. 

Photo credit: dan