{"id":574,"date":"2018-06-03T13:10:45","date_gmt":"2018-06-03T18:10:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roberts-lieb.com\/faithbites\/?p=574"},"modified":"2018-06-03T13:10:45","modified_gmt":"2018-06-03T18:10:45","slug":"june-3-what-can-i-handle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roberts-lieb.com\/faithbites\/2018\/06\/03\/june-3-what-can-i-handle\/","title":{"rendered":"June 3 – What Can I handle?"},"content":{"rendered":"

#154 #FaithBites #FaithJourney<\/p>\n

What Can I handle?<\/p>\n

As we\u2019ve talked about many times: Life is Hard. We are swamped and under siege with pressures, commitments, problems, bills, and more. We try our best, but it seems like we are constantly underwater. Things that used to be a joy, seem like a task to complete.<\/p>\n

When I stated FaithBites, I looked forward to it every day. A chance to connect to all of you, to learn about God\u2019s word, and see how it impacts my life daily. Some days though, it is a chore. I don\u2019t want to do it. I don\u2019t want to take the time to think. I feel it is too much. But I do it, I learn, and I feel better about it. While that is a small example, we all have these pressures and constraints on us.<\/p>\n

Today at worship, our pastor said something that really stuck with me. We often say to ourselves and people in pain: \u201cGod only gives you as much as you can handle\u201d. The truth is, he gives you more than you can handle on your own. You can\u2019t try to do it all as you are not perfect nor are you capable. We often try though and that leads to more pain, stress, and exhaustion.<\/p>\n

You may be asking, why would God give us too much to handle. I didn\u2019t say he gave you too much to handle, but too much to handle on your own. You need Christ. His love, his strength, his passion, is what gives you the strength, the love, the wisdom, and the power to accomplish any task or thrive in any struggle.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.\u00a09\u00a0We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.\u00a010\u00a0Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.\u201d \u2013 2 Corinthians 4:8-10<\/a> (NLT)<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 1:8-9<\/a><\/p>\n

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Being a follower of Christ is not easy. There are temptations all around us. There are unbelievers. There is Satan. There are so many trials and tribulations that we think we cannot do it anymore.\u00a0 The funny thing is that is true. We can\u2019t do it alone. But through our prayers, through God\u2019s gifts, we are able to not be crushed. We won\u2019t go into despair or be abandoned. We will get knocked down (and then I get up again, you ain\u2019t never going to keep me down. Sorry, Tubthumpin was one of my favorite songs in college).<\/p>\n

We are saved and empowered throws God\u2019s G.R.A.C.E.<\/p>\n