“God won’t give you more than you can handle”. I think we’ve all heard that said, either to us during a hardship or to others. It’s one of those phrases that people think is comforting to say, but really just isn’t. And it’s really not quite what the Bible says anyway:
1 Corinthians 10:13
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
I am no Biblical scholar or theologian, but the above verse does seem pretty clear to me: God will give you struggles BUT with the struggles He will also provide a way for you to endure them.
By far the biggest struggle of my life was Gabe dying. It hit me like nothing else. It was, and at times is, something that has the power to make my heart race and take my breath away. That grief is so incredibly deep. When a grief like that hits you, you have to find strength. That strength has to come from somewhere. For me it came from many places: my family, friends, and my faith.
Going to Mass was a difficult thing. Our family had gone from 5 people in the pew to 4. It was the same church where my oldest son had laid in a casket, so memories of his funeral came flooding back when we were there. At the sign of Peace I would instantly be taken back to our last Mass with him. It was just a week or so before he died and when I went to give him a hug he gave me a silly smile and pulled back. I hugged him anyway. For many months that memory would take over when I was at church. Going to Mass was also difficult because of Incense. It created such powerful memories of Gabe’s funeral Mass and it felt like a wound was reopened every time it was used- which in the Catholic Church is quite a lot.
Now I find myself in a difficult place again. Not as difficult as Gabe’s death, for sure. But still extremely difficult. And now I am really drawing on my faith. I start the day with the daily readings, and a special blog that helps those in my situation. I’m also attending Mass as much as I possibly can. I have actually gone every day this week. Sitting in the peaceful church, or the church on campus, is amazingly calming. I find that I hear a message each time that really applies to my life. It gives me dedicated time to pray and think, time where I’m forced to slow down my busy life and do something that is immensely helpful to me.
This evening I went to Mass, but I also went to therapy. I’ve been working through some issues related to Gabe’s death and my current hardship. I mentioned that I need to be stronger and like any good therapist mine didn’t let that line go. She pointed out the ways I am strong: doing the tasks I need to each day when I feel like I just can’t. Going to events that I KNOW will be painful, but doing it because it’s important. Getting out there and looking for a job and interviewing when it feels so incredibly daunting. And confronting emotions that are so confusing, scary, and sad rather than just stuffing them down and ignoring them. Those things all show strength.
So where does that tie in to faith? Because without my faith I would never have that strength. Part of the reason I was able to move forward after Gabe’s death was because I KNOW he is in heaven with God, having an amazing time. I would not have had the strength to go on without that beautiful assurance. Without my faith I would have given up long ago. Life is hard. Right now life is really hard. But giving up is not an option. So I continue to go to Mass and get that strength that only comes from God. That strength that pushes me forward on the days when I just want to turn around. I’m so thankful that faith and strength are so beautifully interwoven. I have faith that the strength I am developing will lead to far more beautiful things than I can possibly imagine. And I can’t wait to see what those beautiful things are.
What I Can't Control 
Reading this post I remembered one quote. It’s one of my favorites – Sometimes the strength within you is not a big fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers every so softly “You got this. Keep going.” ❤
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That is so true! Thank you for sharing!
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