You’ve probably heard – or maybe you’ve even said – “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Sounds really good but there’s just one problem. The Bible doesn’t teach that.
Many people point to 1 Corinthians 10:13 to back up this “Christian teaching.” But is that what Paul meant when he wrote: “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear?” Let’s take a quick look at that passage.
What is the Promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13?
This verse is often taken out of context, so let’s pull back and look at the surrounding passage to find out what Paul was talking about. (See this post for more information on “biblical context.”)The topic of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 is temptation and being prepared to resist it. At the end of chapter 9, Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth to practice strict spiritual discipline like he did.
Chapter 10 begins with a “for” (1 Corinthians 10:1 NIV). Paul wanted them to be self-disciplined because he did not want them to follow the bad example of Israel in the wilderness who gave into temptation and disobeyed God.
Because of their disobedience that generation died in the desert and never entered the promised land. Their story was recorded as a warning for the Corinthians and for us (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Then, in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Paul outlines what we should do instead of giving into temptation:
- Keep up our guard – Thinking we are too strong to fall into sin makes us vulnerable.
- Don’t believe the lie that our temptation is extreme or unusual – No temptation will come our way that hasn’t already been part of the human experience.
- Look for God’s escape plan – God is faithful. He will not allow any temptation to come our way that is too great for us to resist. He will always provide a way for us to say no and the strength to bear up under the pull of sin.
Okay, did you see that? Number 3 is the real promise of verse 13. God will never allow us to be tempted to sin beyond what we can resist.
So what about this question: “Does God ever give us more hardship than we can handle?” The short answer is “yes.” But let’s turn to another one of Paul’s letters for a more in-depth explanation.
God Will Give You More than You can Handle
In his second letter to the believers in Corinth, Paul wrote about hardships he experienced in Asia:
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, NIV
The same biblical author that wrote 1 Corinthians 10:13 also wrote 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. Paul knew that God would allow him to experience more hardship than he could bear. He had lived it. He had pressure in Asia that was far beyond his ability to endure.
Why? Why did God allow Paul – and why does God allow us – to experience trials and difficulties, grief and pain, more than we can bear? One reason is found right in this passage – so that we will rely on God and not on our own strength and power. (See also “6 Ways God Uses Trials in a Believer’s Life.“)
Hear Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 1:10:
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. 2 Corinthians 1:10, NIV
When we are unable to deliver ourselves, God is able. When we are unable to stand up under the pressure, it will be God’s strength in us.
No, God does not promise that He will never give us more than we can handle. Instead, He holds out His hand and tells us to lean on Him.
Have you ever misunderstood the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13? What comfort can you take in the real promise?
For more about how God uses trials in our lives see these posts:
- 6 Ways God Uses Trials in a Believer’s Life
- Trials Prove our Faith Works
- 3 Reasons for Joy in Trials
Thank you, Kathy. What a timely article, and I pray that it will bless others as much as it has blessed me. For me, you’ve brought even more clarity on this subject. I’m so glad that I discovered your site. Keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Joyce
Hi Joyce, glad you found me and glad you were encouraged by the post!
Thanks! Truth has set me free today!
Thank God for his word needed that to continue to go on another day as I recently lost my only child and son to gun violence some days I feel hopeless and not looking forward to a joyful life but as I meditate on this everyday I can make it or I have already made it Thank you and God’s face continue to shine upon you
I am sorry to hear about your massive loss. May God continue to comfort and sustain you in the days ahead.
Dear Kathy
Thank you so much for providing clarity of the issue of temptation and how we can go about handling it. For many years I have suffered from temptation but never discovered how to fight even though I use to read the Word. Keep up the good work, you surely a blessing to many.
Sincerely
Albert
Albert, thanks for stopping by! I’m glad the post encouraged you!
Dear Kathy,
I was recently questioning, if God allows “hardships” in our lives more than we can handle…and you answered, “Yes” with scripture. Thank you! You referenced
2 Corinthians 1:8-9. My unfortunate CIRCUMSTANCES are seemingly life-long and sometimes it seems as though I am losing my mind! Reading your post, importantly referencing scripture has HELPED ME. I am waiting on the Lord to direct me and “His will”…not mine, be done. As far as temptations, I have none. I am a woman of strength in the Lord whom seek daily His will for my life. Anything outside of God, simply put, I don’t want it and have not a desire to seek it. Things of the world are dead to me. That test is very easy for me to pass. However, my circumstances are completely draining me.😥 My prayers are God will deliver and answer my prayers in the next few days. In Jesus Holy Mighty Name. Thank you for such inspiration with hope referencing scripture in your shared post! Many blessings to you and all others whom happen to read your words of encouragement.
Are you saying that our struggles are normal as believers?
Hi Stephen! the Bible tells us to expect difficulties and struggles in life. Jesus said, “In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Paul said that anyone who lives a godly life will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter, James, and Paul all tell us how God will work in our lives “when” we have trouble (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5). Sometimes these troubles are the kind of things that come with a fallen world, like illness. Sometimes these struggles are the result of our living for Jesus. But God will work in them all for our good and His glory!
Thank you for sharing the real promise of God’s Word!!! As I meditated on your article, I realized that if God didn’t give us more than we can handle, He wouldn’t be able to show us His great power!! And we would think in our minds that we don’t need Him. As Christians, we really really need to stop listening to/believing “old Christian cliches” , and start reading, studying God’s Word for ourselves!! And sharing His truth!! Thanks again!!
Robert:july 15,2018 i have been struggling with this 1st corinthians 10-13 some ministers teach that you shoulnd’t fall. Or give in,but inn my thinking a babe in Christ or a new Convert will fail this TEST if they have not read this passage of scripture or been tested or heard or read this, give me some clarity on my comment.
God’s promise is that He will always provide the strength through the Spirit and a way to avoid sin. But you are right, as Christians still growing in our faith, we will not always follow the Spirit. But our faith should be continually growing so that we say “no” more and more and “yes” less and less to sin!
hi just want to ask about what you have said.
we will not always follow the Spirit?
God does not force obedience. He is faithful to guide, but we must choose to follow His leading.
In James we’re told that God does not tempt any man. I can’t understand why this passage is so misinterpreted. God DOES NOT bring us hardship. The devil does that. God will not allow him to tempt us above what we can bear. God will provide a way of escape. Perhaps Paul felt his hardships were more than he could bear, but the truth is, he could and DID bear them.God provided a way of escape. To tell Christians that God may suddenly attack your life with hardship above what you can bear is frightening and completely untrue!
Nancy, thank you for your comments. Sorry for any confusion caused by my post. While Satan may be the source of many of our troubles and temptations, nothing can come into our lives that God does not allow. (See Job’s story for an example.) The spiritual truth that is taught in 2 Corinthians through Paul’s hardship in Asia is that God often allows difficulties in our lives that we can not handle without His presence and power. That’s what Pau; learned and that’s what Paul taught. God allowed the hardship so Paul would learn to depend on God. The same is true for us. God wants us to learn to trust Him and depend on Him in temptations and hardships. In that regard, God will allow more into our lives that we can handle on our own. But we can “handle” it with Him!
What about “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” is this biblical? I can’t wait for God to show me a purpose in all that I have endured the last 5 years, and it is truely a testimate to his power that I am alive and breathing but I for sure couldn’t handle it, and it didn’t make me stronger, but I would like to ask you for prayers to mend my broken family and give us peace in Jesus name. Thank you so much.
I did find it intersting that the scripture must specify that you won’t be given any temptation that is too much to bare, anything unusual or unexpected, because I have no idea what would be considered a tempatation that isn’t a normal one in life. And he promises this to US his children, so are those that are not chosen experiencing such temptations? Hmmm…I draw a blank there. With all the things that my eyes have been opened to the last few years, it is almost a relief that there is some sort of evil that let’s me feel ignorant to it. I wish I was still given the gift of being naive.
Jennifer, I am so sorry for your trials and struggles. May God give you the strength, wisdom, and guidance to stand strong and glorify Him in the process. Although the phrase, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” is not in the Bible, it does reflect some spiritual truth. Scripture is clear that God works in and through our trials to develop our character and refine our faith, making us more and more like Jesus. (See James 1:2-4, Romans 5:1-5, and 1 Peter 1:3-7.) You said you don’t see growth from what you have experienced. It may simply be that you don’t yet recognize the spiritual growth. Sometimes we miss it if we’re looking for things the world values. Often God wants to instill characteristics in us that the world doesn’t consider to be “strong” characteristics like humility and selflessness.
As far as 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul merely wants us to realize that no temptation will come our way that mankind does not deal with regularly. We will have no excuses for yielding to temptation. We can’t say, “Now, God, that temptation was really unusual. Surely You won’t hold me accountable for saying yes to that!” Anyone who is a Christian – who has a saving relationship with Jesus – has the Holy Spirit living with us. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is living within us! We have the power to say “no” to sin. There will always be a way open for us to turn away from sin. The temptation will never be so powerful that we can’t resist. However, a non-Christian does not have the Holy Spirit. They will definitely experience the same temptations, but they do not have the same strength or the same promise of a way out from God.
I hope this helps Jennifer!
hi ms. kathy thank you for reminding me about God’s promise….
it really means a lot to me…thank you for your sharing about Gods word it encourage me a lot..It helps me in my christian living..God bless..i hope theres a lot of people will realize something about God through this..More God’s blessing to your family..
When I hear the phase “God won’t put more on you than you can handle” If we are truly Gods children , Than only when God allows something to happen will it happen.
Question; Who would say that they 100% trust in God, I bet all would say that they do.
Question; Who would say that God can trust in you 100% , Think about it before you answer that.
Remember Job , God told the devil that He has 100% trust in Job and look happened.
I do not agree with you. I believe the Bible promises overall that God’s believers will never be given more than we can handle if we rely on God’s power to enable us to endure. Doesn’t the word “temptation” in this verse mean also “test, an experiment” which would cover all trials of life? That is what I’ve always been taught. Yes, God may choose to give us unthinkably hard things (like having to be beheaded rather than deny Him), but if so God/the Holy Spirit will be with us and enable us and it will not be more than we can handle. If relying on our own strength, yes, we will be given more than we can handle, but a Christ following believer will be operating under God’s grace and strength, so God will enable us to handle whatever He allows for us and our eternal destiny cannot be thwarted. This promise is so important, please don’t try to take it away from me.
Beth, thank you for commenting. Honestly, I believe we are expressing the same truth in different ways. God will absolutely give us more than we can handle on our own… but He does not leave us on our own! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit! Whether temptations or trials we have God’s power to sustain us. I am sorry if I didn’t do a good job of expressing this in the post!
I agree that I think this is two ways of kind of saying the same thing. But I believe the word “temptation” in this verse actually means all trials, tests, temptations and persecutions that God could ever give us. I think that saying that a good, trustworthy God would ever give one of His Own more than they can handle is false. God will give us harder things that we’d ever want to endure, certainly, (I am going through this) but He will give me grace for anything and everything He allows. That promise is the only thing that keeps me able to get up and press on every morning. And God continually proves this to me in the hard things He allows for His purposes for good in my life. https://biblehub.com/lexicon/1_corinthians/10-13.htm
Hi Beth! Thanks for popping back on. You are right that the Greek word translated here as “temptations” can also be used to refer to all kinds of trials. However, we must always keep the context of the passage in mind to understand it properly. Here, the context of the larger passage is temptation. You are also right that God gives us grace and His strength to come through anything He allows in our path. But like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, God allows us to have trials we cannot handle in our strength so we will rely on Him for strength. And praise God that He gives it!
Wow, my mother passed 10/13/13 due to Liver Cancer. Six – Eight months earlier she was being treated for a stomach virus. I keep seeing 1013 and I had come to loathe the number. Tonight I saw 10:13 on my clock and again, and again. My mom was my heart and the center of my universe. It was the toughest time of my life. I cried out to God that only He could get me through it! You’re right, he doesn’t promise to not give you more than you can handle, but He does promise to never leave you nor forsake you. Amen
Hi Kathy. I struggle to bring 1 Cor 10 v13 and Matt 6 “let us not be led into temtation” together. If we pray not to be led into temptation why are we experiencing temtation?
Christa, thanks for coming by and thanks for your question. Since we know Jesus Himself experienced temptation, we can know that we will also. But Jesus did not yield to it. When we ask God to “not lead us into temptation,” based on all of Scripture,” I believe we are asking God to strengthen us against the temptation and to empower us not to yield. In other words to give us the way out we are promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13. God in fact, can use temptation in our lives to strengthen our faith. Each time we stand firm and do not yield, we grow.
The message in this passage goes way beyond the physical difficulties,trials,opposition,defeat,seduction persecution or even death through torture…etc.The hidden lesson in this passage is the divine promise of the ultimate victory that God has secured for the Christian (salvation) in spite of any possible earthly hindrance.If Paul was alluding to any of the indescribable physical pains Christians have known and are still enduring, then the passage makes no sens at all.The cries of beheaded Christians in Revelation is still echoing in our ears. What physical earthly way did God provide for these people IF NOT THE STRENGTH TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION OF RENOUNCING CHRIST? THE TRUE VICTORY OVER ANY TEMPTATION IS THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ONE’S FAITH IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY, EVEN UNTO DEATH. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT CHRIST DID.
Daniel K. Aby – I love your comment very much. There are many other scriptures that teach us that God will be with us through every trial and that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Isaiah’s “when you walk through the fire you will not be burned” is a favorite. God will always enable His true believers who lean on Him to endure whatever circumstances He allows, including even persecution unto death. I love the point you’ve made about all trials/tests/persecutions can cause us to be tempted to deny Christ, or get mad at God, etc. I think I’m starting to understand this particular passage of scripture more. I personally believe God will NEVER give any true believer more than they can handle IF AND ONLY IF they rely on God’s power and strength to endure the hardship. As Kathy has said in earlier comments, I think that both my take and her take are really two ways of saying the same thing. I believe firmly that God enables His true believers to persevere to the end (even if called to die for Christ) and that we believers must also choose to cooperate with God in obedience. It is a paradox. I love God and His promises so much. I’ve posted some about this on Facebook and hope to blog some of my thoughts on this topic in the near future. My blog is at grandmabethblog.com
Well said Beth! Thank you for sharing. And yes, it sounds like we are the same page! I’ve heard some Christians use the phrase “God won’t give me more than I can handle” to try to say that God won’t allow their circumstances get really bad. But obviously, Scripture teaches us something different and I know that’s not what you’re saying either! God bless you and thank you for engaging in the conversation!
Dear Kathy,
My name is Michael. I asked Jesus in my heart in June of 2012 and in September of that year I was baptized. Before coming to Jesus I was living in and for a while i had no desire for the former things of my “old” life. A few years went by and I found myself in a battle all the time with the crossroads of temptation. there are two ways to go resistance or to travel down the road that leads nowhere. It saddens me but every time i commit the sins and return to my own vomit I want to return to Jesus and give him a whole offering but i fail over and over again. I read 1 Corinthians 10.13 and was thinking that my failures are weighing me down and God says he will give me a way out so why do I fail? Is he not talking or am I not listing. I reach out to you because I can see that you are doing Gods will by teaching the truth. I need to hear from you . I am in a good church but am not certain as to who to turn to with these truths about me.Thank you
God bless.
Michael, I am so sorry to hear of your struggles. But I also thank God that you continue to turn to Him! He never told us following Him would be easy. In fact, Jesus said it would be hard. I don’t have all the answers for you. But I do think you would benefit from a mentor and/or accountability partner or group. When God saves us, He saves us into a family. He knows we cannot live a life of faith as He intends on our own. He designed us and faith to need each other. Go to someone you trust or admire at your church. Ask them to help you find a mentor or accountability group. If they can’t help you, go to someone else. Be persistent until you get the support you need. As you grow, as God strengthens your faith, He will also be able to use you to support someone else!
Hi Michael and Kathy, I agree with Kathy, you should find somebody to mentor you or help you with accountability. The Bible guarantees that it is a human type of sin that you are struggling with. It might take someone else praying and fasting for you to get the victory.
I guess the saying should be ” God won’t give us more than He can handle”
Oh! I love this! So right! “God won’t give us more than He can handle!”
Hi, Kathy. This verse came up in my YouVersion verse of the day today. It troubled me like it usually does but I decided to investigate deeper about it. Thank you for your insight, I appreciate that you were able to point out a complimentary perspective from Paul himself. Sometimes, things like the Verse of the Day can be uplifting and that’s good on its own. Times like today, they may be troubling, but it seems courage and fellowiship can turn trouble into understanding. Take care.
Tommy, thanks for coming by. And may God bless your diligent study of His Word!
Hi Kathy I was pondering this verse today. I was wondering if it could also apply to us being tempted to worry and fear about situations that arise in our lives. I tend to struggle in this area at times. The thought came that God is bigger than anything we will ever face in life. Therefore, we don’t need to fear. He will provide a way out so we can endure it. Let me know your thoughts and if you think I am taking this is out of context. thx scott
Difficulties and trials in our lives also present us with temptations. We are tempted to try to fix things on our own rather than depend on God. We are tempted to worry rather than trust God. So yes, trials and temptations are situations in which we are tempted!
Thanks Kathy for you response! I appreciate it! I believe this is a scripture that I can lean on for help. Scott
Thank you for clarification on the true meaning. Before, I was saying God wouldn’t give us more than we can handle. But now I believe I was saying it wrong. You have shed light on this verse. This is one of my weight loss verses and it gives me a different perspective. Thank you.
I read this message (this webpage) a few years ago and have returned to it just now after personal experience of relying on God to fight for me and yes these words are true. For years I thought we were to fight sin, until I realised that sin is too great for us. We cannot conquer it because it is a spiritual power of much greater strength than we possess. What is the answer? How to conquer sin? The answer is to ask God to do it for us. We will be required to participate in the fight, but once God begins to fight the problem in our lives on our behalf we will discover that its hold on us will be greatly weakened to the point that we can conquer it easily. This is the key to defeating sin. God does it for us. Only he can do it! Only someone desperate enough to succeed will understand these words. In desperate times, God will provide solutions. All we need do is ask him. Why haven’t you had your victory yet? Maybe you haven’t been desperate enough. Time will change everything.
For those struggling to understand Kathy’s message, let me explain it this way. All around us are people who’s problems, their sin, are greater than they are. Every drug addict on death’s door, the man drinking himself to death, the gambler who is ruining his life…they are everywhere and they include YOU. God explained it to me this way. Imagine that you are a king and your kingdom is being attacked by a much greater power than you (the kingdom of darkness). The wise thing to do would be to write to the king of the greater domain of which you are apart of, the kingdom of heaven, your benefactor and protector, and request immediate assistance against this enemy. You cannot hope to defeat this enemy, but with the greater power assisting you (heaven), you certainly can. We are confronted by enemies of greater power than us (spirits of darkness). We must learn how to use heaven to help us. How to do this? You must ask God to help you in this way, and the enemy will be greatly weakened before you!
1 Corinthians 10:13 Thank you for taking the time to bring clarification to this scripture. I have struggled with this promise for years,only to realize that I misunderstood what Paul was truly saying. I have been a Christian for many years, but only as of recent am I realizing to ‘let go and let God’ work in my life.
Thanks for coming by! Learning God’s Word is a life-long journey for all of us!
Kathy, I am finally starting to understand this topic more fully. Will God give me more than I think I can handle–will God give me really hard terrible trials? Probably. BUT He will walk with me through it and will provide grace for me to overcome and trust Him through the trials and tests of life. https://grandmabethblog.com/2019/10/20/never-burned/ I am glad for this post which first caught my attention and led me to your teaching ministry on Facebook. Glory to God.
So glad we connected!
Hi, thanks for this, it really helped me explain this verse.. sometimes its hard to put in words and your page came in so handy, thanks! God bless 🙂
Thank you very much for the clarification I was given in 1Corinthians 10:13. Indeed, God Almighty is too faithful. He is the Way Maker and our Helper.
I am Blessed.
I buried my Husband on January 6, 2020, the first man that t the last man that slept in my bed, the last man to protect me, the last man to provide for me and last man to hold a my hand in public and the last man to let me cry on his shoulders and gave me a kiss. I buried my Daddy on April 1, 2021, the first man to protect me, the first man to provide for me, the first man to tucked me into bed, the first man to hold my hand in public, the first man to let me cry on his shoulders and the first man to give me a kiss.
I’m a woman. Two of the most important men of my life have left on earth. I’m tired of people misquoting 1 Corinthians 10:13 to me. Thank you for giving me the true explanation so that I can have the true understanding of God’s intentions. I believe I can make it better now.
Cynthia Woodfin Kellum
Birmingham, Alabama
cmkellum@bellsouth .net
I’m so sorry for your losses. Praise God we have a Heavenly Father who comforts us in our grief. I’m thankful that God’s Word encouraged you today.
Enjoyed your piece on “God will give you more than you can handle”. Right on. Aunt Tommie and I have truly experienced this in a BIG way in the last three and one half months of bad health. God is good all the time.]
Uncle Herman
Yes! All the time God is good! I am sorry you guys have been struggling. But I am thankful that God has been your strength!
Kathy, I am looking for anything in scripture if it is forbidden to cut my hair. I know the Old Testament has this in it, but the entire covering I can misread so easily. Why is it we do not wear veils to church? I get out of scripture it is because we have hair as our covering. Long or short as long as it is not shaven. I know as a human, I can read something totally different in the scripture. What are your thoughts, please.
Hi Mary, those are some big questions that we be hard to answer here with any depth. However, based on my own personal study, I believe we must understand those passages in light of the culture of the day. That’s why women don’t wear head coverings in most churches.
I need to learn how to understand the passages. I do understand that these things were being spoken to the people of that time. I can understand that our hair is our covering as long as it hasn’t been shaved off. I just need to understand the passages not in my thoughts, but how it was meant to be understood. Even in that time.
Thanks
Mary, I have a good friend who has just written a book on this topic. It won’t be out until February but she thoroughly deals with all those passages you asked about. So watch for it. It’s called “On Purpose” by Julie Zine Coleman
than you. I will watch for ot!
Too often the word ‘temptation’ has been used synonymously as ‘trial’ or ‘hardship’ or ‘burden.’ And I just couldn’t agree with that context because there really is only one definition of temptation. Tonight I prayed for the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and clarity and understanding as I was reading my new book. And He led me to Google this verse in 1 Cor. 10:13. I was searching for the truth and your page was the third one I opened. It’s instances like this that technology serves a very good purpose. Thank you for your ministry. I don’t know how long ago you wrote this but God’s Word is infinite in time and space and it does not return to Him void, but accomplishes His purpose. God bless you. And other readers in this page, remember God loves you so much. He knows what’s going on and you are not alone. You are not alone. Stay holding His hand.
Thank you for stopping by! Yes, God’s Word is truly infinite!
Thank you so much for shielding more light on the Bible verse,my pastor gave them to me. My name is Blessing from Nigeria,I hv been through so much even at the moment my home was badly affected by a tornado but God is really using this Bible verse to comfort me.