Picture it: Marion Baptist Church, 2025. A group of friends scattered along the back rows of our church listening to Bible Study. It had been a long, but amazing day. As Brother Aaron is saying the Wednesday Night Announcements I am thinking about going home, putting on my comfy clothes and chilling out.

He begins to tell the parable of the master and his three servants. I tune in. This is one I know. The master is going away for a long time. He gives one servant 5 bags of silver, another 2 bags of silver and the third 1 bag of silver. My Bible says he gave according to their abilities. Meaning the master knew his servants and what they are capable of.

The one with 5 began investing and doubled his. The one with 2 did the same. The one with one was scared of what his master would do if he lost the silver so he buried it in the dirt.

The master comes back and he is pleased with the two who doubled their silver. He was angry with the one who did nothing. He took his bag of silver and gave it to the one with 10.

What I learned is the master was Jesus and we are the servants. He has given us gifts and if want to be good stewards we need to take those gifts and use them for good. Help multiple the kingdom. I also learned that the first two servants probably knew their master. They knew he would be forgiving if they tried and failed over doing nothing.

During this interactive Bible Study someone brought up a scripture that is often misunderstand. One I even misunderstood until now. They said, “God doesn’t give us more than we can handle”. Brother Aaron was quick to say that’s another verse everyone gets wrong. This caught my attention!

Brother Aaron went on to say God does give us more than we think we can handle. We all will face times of testing/temptation/trouble–whatever you want to call it. BUT God will be faithful to us. He will make a way! With Him you make it through!

Lightbulb Moment! Aren’t they the best. I sat there and my eyes filled with tears. Its been a hard couple of weeks. To be honest its been a hard two years, but this past week and half have felt a bit overwhelming. I was beginning to question how much more I could handle. How much longer can I stay strong?

I ended up going home and diving into this scripture that is so often misquoted or misunderstood. 1 Corinthians 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”.

That section in yellow is important. God knows what we are capable of. He knows our abilities, strengths and weakness. If you are going through something He knows you can handle it. So stay strong and handle it! He is there with you always.

And let’s not skip that last part- “he will provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it”. Obviously, He knows I can handle it since He hasn’t given me a way of escape. So, I will carry on knowing He is in this with me!

Just look in the Bible. God was with Moses and look what he did for the Israelites. Little shepherd boy David took down Goliath. God with was them and they knew it. He knew their abilities and they trusted in Him. The Bible is full of people who didn’t think they were capable, but trusted God. He showed them how strong they can be when they walk with Him and have faith in Him.

The Passion translation of 1 Corinthians 10:13 says “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 trail you face, so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trail God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out victoriously”.

What should stick out is that Paul says YOU CAN BEAR IT and its an OPPORTUNITY TO TRUST HIM MORE. It doesn’t say more than YOU can handle. Its what GOD knows you can handle.

This morning I woke up with a renewed strength! I am going through it and its hard and it really sucks, but I can handle it. I trust God! I know He is walking with me. I will continue to be His joyful warrior. With Him I will keep fighting each battle and be in prayer that He is working to end this war.