Testing or tempting

When suffering seems more than we can bear, we often are directed to 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 can bring comfort or perhaps you find yourself doubting this Scripture because so often our suffering seems more than we can bear, that perhaps this time, in our case, God overloaded us.

But let's look more closely to this verse. It doesn't say anything about suffering or trials, it is talking about temptation.

God will not allow us to be TEMPTED beyond what we can bear and will always provide us a way of escape.

A few chapters later Paul seems to contradict the idea that God will not try us beyond our own ability. "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." 2 Corinthians 1: 8-9 Paul indicates that God does indeed test us beyond our own ability to bring us to the end of ourselves so that we will rely on God.

These two verses deal with two different circumstances. The first deals with temptation, the second with trial and suffering.

God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to take the escape route. We will never be put in a situation where we do not have the choice to obey.

God will allow us to experience trials and suffering beyond what we can bear so that we will rely on Him rather than ourselves.

A great deal of complication comes when we confuse the two.

Diane

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