Is it more than you can bear?

Is it more than you can bear? 

In his message, "Out of Context: More Than You Can Handle", Pastor Mike Novotny shares some powerful insights about tough times and challenging circumstances. 

I believe this can be very useful when we apply it to handling food choices and urges.

I remember thinking I couldn't handle myself when it came to food "temptations".

What I didn't know is that the strength of God is available for me in that area, too.

When I learned that I can line up my thinking in agreement with God, I am strengthened up to make choices from a place of love and honor.

Yes, even choices about food.

Follow with me as we go through this passage with Pastor Mike's thoughts:

I wonder if you've ever felt like that before?  Like maybe you know the right thing to do or the Christian thing to do or the Bible thing to do but there's this one thing that you come face to face with it, you just don't know how to say no to it.  And if that's you, you're the kind of person the apostle Paul was addressing when he wrote those famous words in 1 Corinthians 10.

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being.  But God will be faithful to you  He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that with bring you out of it victoriously. - 1 Cor 10:13

Paul says, "You know that temptation that seems like its way more than you can handle?  Did you know that it is common to mankind?  That what you are facing is something that literally billions of Christians have faced before?...Think of this: God has helped billions of people through the exact same temptation. The incredible comfort is your heavenly Father knows exactly how to fix it. 

And then Paul moves to comfort number two.  Same verse, nest words.  He says, "And Go is faithful." Here's my favorite part - not only is your temptation common bur you God is faithful. The word "faithful" means dependable or reliable or trustworthy.  That God has made all these promises to you about dealing with temptation and He has to keep His promises because He's God. And so when you read the Bible and God makes you a promise, you can trust that He is faithful...And so, when you pray in the face of that temptation, "God, I don't think I can do this; I need your Spirit," He's faithful and He will give it.  

But then Paul saves the best for last.  The third and final comfort deserves a lot of attention.  He says, "God 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 endure it."  You will never face something that's so heavy that you can't handle it together.
Did you know that the Greek language of the New Testament is a lot more like Alabama than Wisconsin?  That if you read Paul's original Greek, you could tell the difference between you,one person, or all y'all together, and in this verse, Paul actually switches from singular to the plural.  "God won't give you," (singular), "more than all y'all (plural)  can handle."

Sometimes life, sometimes even temptation, is more than you individually can handle, but if you will reach out for help, you can handle it.  

God won't give you more than all y'all can handle  

This is one of the biggest reasons I would like to encourage you to allow me to stand with you as you go through the journey of transforming your relationship with food and your body.  We can begin with a simple free strategy session.  Click here to schedule yours.  

We could honor God in all that we do because the truth is God won't give you more than all y'all can handle.

I am your dream and truth advocate,
Peggy

Excerpts used by permission of Time of Grace . For more information, visit timeofgrace.org