I just can’t handle it anymore!  No doubt you’ve been there and you know how it feels to be pushed to the limit. You feel like you’ve taken as much as you can and there is no hope for help or relief. At other times, we are face-to-face with desires or circumstances which threaten to destroy us.

This is the precise point where we find help from the Bible. Consider 1 Cor. 10:13:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Several observations will help us:

Temptations overtake us – the word  translated temptation can mean 1). To test in order to demonstrate authenticity; 2). A trial of any kind; 3). An enticement to evil or to do wrong. It is this third meaning in view here. The idea is that enticements to do evil/wrong do confront us. The source of these temptations could be our sinful fallen natures, Satan or his forces, or the fallen world around us. In other words, the Christian should not be surprised when he is confronted with temptations to sin. They threaten from the outside it was and within us. As a matter of fact,

Temptations are experienced by everyone. Often times when we are confronted with a temptation we think that no one else has ever experienced anything like this. Here, God is reminding us that we are wrong. What confronts us is common experience to all people.

Temptations are governed by God. Our Heavenly Father will not let temptations overwhelm his children. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond your ability. Just as it seems when we will be overwhelmed, we are reminded that God has not given us any more than we can handle. This implies that God has at least allowed the temptation to occur. We also know from Scripture that he uses all things were good (Romans 8.28). So, even when we do not know what he is up to, we can be sure that God will not give us more than we can handle and that he is also using it for our good. We can be sure this because God is faithful. The faithfulness and love our heavenly father was to put our circumstances into perspective. We are reminded of God’s commitment to bless his people so that we can contemplate and consider the graciousness of our God. God is faithful even when we are not.

Temptations may be escaped. When we are tempted, God is providing a way of escape. We often may feel assist we are being defeated and are without help but God reminds us that he will provide for us. Victory against temptation is possible because God provides some way to win. We may feel we are whipped but we are not.

Temptations can be endured. This is usually not what we hoped for – we wanted God to remove us from the temptation; God wants us to endure it so that we mature in him. The help we can count on is the strength to stand up under temptation. God will help us to endure it.

So here is God’s encouragement for you.  Just when we think that we do not have the strength, desire or ability to continue on, God steps in and says, “You can do it I will provide for you. I will help you.” God is faithful and he will provide a way for us will to endure!  God will see to it; you will stand.