How Much Can One Person Take Before They Break?
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself—2 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)
For Insight
Do you know your breaking point? Do you know how much you can bear up under before you break? Usually, our breaking point is way beyond the place we feel we are going to break. Even when we feel we can’t go on any longer we still have a little or lot more stamina left.
It was the winter my father-in-law died unexpectedly. We had to make the trip in a snowstorm and when we returned home several days after the funeral it had snowed so hard, we had to shovel out the drive and walkway just to get in our front door. The next day my husband drove to the church to check on things and locked his keys in the car while the engine was still running. We had to call a locksmith to help unlock the car so we could turn the engine off. On and on the troubles kept coming and sorrows kept mounting. It seemed the entire year was filled with one thing after another. Finally, all we could do was cry out to God “Lord, you know how much we can bear!”
How many times have you cried out to God, “Lord, Father, Jesus, you know how much I can bear!” as the troubles kept mounting and all you could do was do the best you could to keep moving, keep getting up and showing up?
At times trials and hard times can make us doubt our ability to continue running our race. At some point we doubt we can keep on going or enduring. We lose breath, lose heart, lose confidence, lose energy, focus, desire, hope and at times, lose faith that everything will work out alright. Of course, our enemy is right there alongside us, whispering, badgering, because he does not want us to continue but cave in.
If the enemy has a strong, almost convincing word, God has a stronger word for us and comes alongside to remind us we can do it not by our own strength or power but because of his strength and power within us.
Life Lesson
Multiple troubles and never-ending problems can take everything out of us, but God is with us all the way. His promises to help, relieve and restore us may seem ineffective and powerless at the time but they at work in our lives and inner being. When you feel you are about to give out and give up just remember Paul’s exhortation to keep standing and then stand tall.
Prayer
Lord, you know me better than I know myself. When I am under pressure or going through a trial, feeling as though I can’t make it any farther, thank you for reminding me I don’t need to give up, I am stronger than I feel, and I can go a little farther under your power and in Jesus’ name. Amen
Digging Deeper
Devotionally Yours 