I made a trip to the University of Chicago hospital this afternoon to visit a friend in the hospital and his wife. This friend had a stem cell transplant after Neal. He too just found out that he has had a recurrence of his cancer. He’s in the hospital now getting 7 days of chemo and a week there to make sure he is okay to go home for a couple weeks before a biopsy. His wife and I went outside for a walk and then sat to visit. One of the things we talked about is that God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. When I came home I checked in the Bible where that was found. Do you know that it isn’t in the Bible? It has been paraphrased from I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” Paul, the author, is talking about sin- a temptation or test. The Message translation says that no test is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it. I think God does give us more than we can handle. The death of Neal is more than I can handle. I can’t go through this on my own. There are many people in the Bible that went through more than they could handle: Moses, Job, Isaiah, Mary, Paul, David. During times of suffering and trials we are to lean on God to get through.
- If God only gives me what I can handle then I’ll never have to be dependent on God
- If God only gives me what I can handle than I stay in my comfort zone and miss out on what God can teach me or the blessings he will give
- I know that what ever I am going through it is not bigger than God
- I know that God will work all things together for his purposes and glory
- I know that God loves me and He is my strength, rock, comfort, peace, and shelter
- I know that God’s grace is enough for me and His strength comes into its own in my weakness
This gives me comfort to know God will give me more than I can handle on my own. I need Him to help me through.
I tried to change up the drive some so it wouldn’t seem like I was going to the hospital to visit Neal. I stopped at the outlet mall on my way and after my visit I went to the South Loop Trader Joe. I will be honest, I cried with Julie and had to pull myself together before I left the parking garage. The visit brought back lots of memories, both difficult and good ones. But God IS with me through this because I can’t do it on my own.
On the journey,
Trish