This is in essence the sermon I heard this Sunday at LifeChurch.tv, Fort Worth Campus. Our senior pastor preached on this and I thought it was very timely. These include my own notes and the notes from the bulletin.

We've all heard the "God won't give you more than you can handle" thing. But it's a "spiritual myth". (The sermon series is called "Urban Legends".) No where in Scripture does it say that.

God will often allow you to have more than you can handle.

Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. (Numbers 11:13-14)

The Gift of Too Much.

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.... (I Corinthians 10:13)

It's not "won't allow us more than we can handle" but that we won't be tempted beyond what we can bear, as He will always make a way for you to escape that temptation before you sin.

If this is how you are going to treat me, put me to death right now...The Lord said to Moses, "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders...and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.  (Numbers 11:15-17)

We were never designed to do it alone.

God's "gift" teaches you to put something down.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away form her."  (Luke 10:41-42)

Too much teaches you to say "or" instead of "and."

It forces us to prioritize.

How do you do it all? You DON'T! There's no way that we can...and especially not in our own strength!

Just because you could do something, are you called to do it?

God's "gift" teaches you to hand something off. (Delegate)

What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.  (Exodus 18:17-18)

**(Notice! That says "cannot handle it alone"! Not what is said in comfoting tones in some Christian circles... no "God won't give you more than you can handle" here...)**

Where two or three are gathered, there He is!

That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you...you will be able to stand the strain,and all these people will go home satisfied.  (Exodus 18:22-23)

God's "gift" teaches you to give something to God.

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.  (Psalms 55:22)

shalak (shaw-lak); cast, hurl, throw.

But (God) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  (2 Corinthians 12:9)

God will often allow you to have more than you can handle. Where in your life do you need to say "or" instead of "and"? (As in, I can do this OR that, I should not do this AND that.)

What are you holding onto that you need to release to God?