God will never give you more than you can bear? Think again.

People mean well and they search for something to say to comfort us during a trial. Often, people will try to make an appeal to scripture as an assist.

That's when they say it.

You know God will never give you more than you can bear.

Would it be improper at that time to ask them to cite the chapter and verse? Maybe so.

Putting the phrase into any of the popular Bible search engines will quickly show you that the alleged phrase doesn't exist. However, simple observation should bring you there too.

That's the Christian faith.

God absolutely will permit the unbearable to come upon us so that His glory is manifested when He does the impossible through us. This, in context is what Paul meant in the often-misused quote.

Philippians 4:10 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. 11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.

What are the 'things' Paul was referring to? Let's read from chapter 11 of His 2nd letter to the Corinthians.

24 Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. 28 And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. 32 In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to[g] seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

The entire point of Paul's admonition is that God absolutely will give us more than we can bear so that God's strength can be manifested through our weakness. It's a mystery of faith and a paradox that gives us comfort when everything possible seems to be going wrong.

1 Peter 4

11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

What are we to do when God gives us the impossible?

We must remember that God will not permit a terrible thing to occur unless He intends to bring an even greater good through it. That can be of little consolation in the midst of the loss of a loved one, an estrangement or an illness. We cannot assume that we can fight the battle on our own. These types of burdens crush people and mental illness, addiction and even suicide can result.

The Bible gives us the remedy.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Grace is the answer. Confession, additional Masses, Adoration and devotionals like the Rosary.

You want proof? Ok. I'm going to give you the proof but you may not like it.

Turn with all your heart towards God, seeking every opportunity to avail yourselves of these sources of grace. What will you likely see as a result? The very fury of hell being unleashed on you.

How is that a good thing? It is a good thing because it means you are in the battle and the devil doesn't like it when you fight back. If will be hard at first, Jesus told us as much.

Continue going back and back and back to those sources of grace and offer up those trials and multiply those prayers. It is a process, and it is often slow and often very painful. It is the narrow and rocky road that leads to life.

Matthew 24:12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.