BEARABLE

We are told in the scriptures that God will not give us a greater burden than we can bear. I'm paraphrasing, of course, but the concept is I think that the Lord knows our strengths and weakness and therefore won't expose us to more trials than we can bear.

I suppose it could said conversely that he wouldn't blessed us beyond what we can handle either. And that is a wonderful promise, but there are times when it is hard to truly appreciate its reality when we have to endure some of the things that come our way in life.

It is admittedly very difficult to accept when you see such incredible misery that comes to some people and then you see those who end up being blessed in some way that totally corrupts them. Neither extreme to me seems to lend credence in my view to such a promise in scripture.

So does it mean God only does this with some people? Or that perhaps the meaning is wrong?

I don't think that is the truth. I do believe that the wisdom is not something we can all truly understand in this life. I wish I had answers on why some people's lives are either far worst or far better than the rest. But in reality, I don't think the answer is possible completely in this life.

I do accept that God has the power to influence our lives and to touch them in so many special ways. That means he can give us strength to deal with problems we didn't think we could handle or even grant us blessings for reasons other than reward. He may bless in a way that is meant to test one's heart.

What I do believe too is that with the Lord he never acts for frivolous reasons. That while something might appear to us as not making sense, it doesn't mean there is no divine wisdom to the situation.

None of that will necessarily help some people who are enduring trials such as Job incurred. However, I do feel that God also wants to touch our lives and strengthen our ability to trust him. So that too is part of the reason some of us face the challenges of life.

Beyond this there is the reality too that none of us truly knows what goes on in the hearts of others. Thus we can't always understand or recognize when a person is among the redeemed and when they are not.

I have seen those in church who were the epitome of hypocrisy and thought themselves faithful saints of the lord. The fact that they had prospered through evil means never seem to impact their thinking or conscience.

I have also known those who were in my opinion following the Lord, but on the surface didn't seem to some like good and faithful church members. They are times seem to be the ones that God uses in special ways and their lives may or may not reflect that hand of the Lord upon it. But regardless, bearable is truly a passageway we all must walk to one degree or another.