Wedding day disaster

Just as we experience actual troubles in life that are too much for us to bear alone (see previous post), we also experience worries - troubles that we rehearse in our minds - which engulf us if we don't release the burden to God.

I do this all the time. I think about what could happen, and I try to control the circumstances in my life to make things turn out the way I want. Yet: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

I'm reminded of my wedding. I put a year of planning and tons of effort into making it a great day. But only hours before the wedding ceremony, we found out that our caterer wasn't going to show up. Now when I say "we", I actually mean every single person but me. Thank God they didn't let me find out, because it would have been too much for me to handle.

So often I want to know what is going to happen, and I want to have my plans set, but if I really knew what the future held, or what all the underlying problems were, it would be too much for me to bear in the moment.

As I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and say "I do", and then while I was busy taking pictures to commemorate the day, I had no idea that my mom, my wedding planner, my brother's girlfriend, my dad's cousin, an old friend from my youth group days, and so many more people were hurriedly pulling strings and making things come together.

By the time I got to the reception, there were hors d'oeuvres, a main course, dishes, and silverware. And I had no idea there was a problem until it was already solved.

It's when things go wrong that I'm reminded of the goodness in people - in friends and family who help and encourage me, and in complete strangers who are willing to stop what they are doing and reach out.

When I think about what could go wrong is when I try to control every situation and make sure my plans are accomplished. When things actually do go wrong is when I realize that I have no control, and I need to trust in God's goodness to sustain me.

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"Rehearsing your troubles results in experiencing them many times, whereas you are meant to go through them only when they actually occur." -Sarah Young

"Worry robs us of our confidence that God notices and cares about the details of our lives." -Renee Swope

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head." -Psalm 139:1-5

Threshold

"God will never give you more than you can handle."

How many times have you heard that statement? I used to believe it.

But then I saw my friend lose first her dad, then her husband to cancer.

And I witnessed a coworker struggling with a chronic illness that caused her severe pain every day of her adult life.

I was amazed at their strength. But they themselves admitted they're not strong. They're simply choosing not be bitter, to rely on God, and to live their lives the best they can.

"God will never give you more than you can handle" is nowhere in the Bible. On the other hand, this is:

"We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life... But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God" (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).

In the letter quoted here, Paul talks about how we share not only in Christ's blessings, but also His sufferings. Even Jesus, the Son of God, bore more suffering than he could handle (Matthew 26:36-46).

God will allow you to bear burdens that are heavier than you can manage, and that's when you'll know how much you need Him.

Here are some much more eloquent accounts of how much we can handle, and what happens when that threshold is surpassed:

God will give you more than you can handle: I guarantee it

Stephen Colbert loves the thing he most wishes had not happened

Run like Keith

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed." -2 Corinthians 4:7-9