Does God give us more than we can bear

Dear Chaplain: I heard someone say that God doesn’t give us more than we can bear. How can this be true when people suffer from cancer and other horrible diseases they die from everyday? Signed, More Than I Can Bear Dear More Than I Can

Bear: Thanks so much for your question. On the surface it appears that God is cruel and unkind to us, his most precious creation, to allow us to suffer the pain of sicknesses, diseases, and other horrible things that we see so many people going through everyday. However, God doesn’t give us these things. James 1:17 is clear, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” Sickness and diseases are neither good nor perfect, and they certainly don’t come from above. According to biblical history, we are predisposed to illnesses, diseases, and death because we were born into this imperfect world where terrible things exist. We are exposed to, and susceptible of receiving, debilitating, deteriorating, and detrimental things that are capable of destroying us. And even if we lived a long life, with no major health problems, the aging process itself is still very difficult for most people to handle. But God didn’t choose these things for us, we chose these things for ourselves way back in the Garden of Eden, when we (mankind) chose sin and death, instead of obeying God. And unfortunately, we were born into a world of sin and death, that comes in many ways; through disasters, diseases or the natural dying process, and it affects everyone without prejudice: the young, old, good, bad, black and white. These things are more than we can bear. Cancer, MS, CHF, war, natural disasters, extreme poverty, and etc., can overwhelm and overtake us. But God, in his infinite mercy, despite our disobedience and what we chose, did not choose to leave us in a hopeless state. He loved us so much, that way back in the Garden of Eden, he created a plan to reverse the curse. At the appointed time, he sent his only begotten son Jesus to be our propitiation. He sent him to take the punishment of sin and death, meant for us, so we might live, be healed, delivered, and set free through faith in his son Jesus Christ. This did not mean that our suffering would totally be removed while we’re here on earth, but rather we were provided with a way of escape ... if we put our faith and trust in Jesus and look to him for help, instead of looking at the things that have us bound, or being bitter. When we place our trust in Jesus, he helps us to endure all that we must go through, and despite our circumstances we still have joy because we put our hope in him who’s proved he’s more than capable of healing and easing the pain that we suffer on earth, or permanently healing us in heaven. In this world we will have tribulation, as Jesus says in the book of James … but he also tells us to “be of good cheer because I have overcome the world”. And if we faithfully endure to the end, according to Matthew 10:22, “...we shall be saved.” The world gives you more than you can bear, not God ... God has provided the burden bearer. I encourage you to cast your cares on him because cares for you (1Peter 5:7). Ask the Chaplain is written by Rev. Dayna Spence, an ordained minister, licensed evangelist, and chaplain who’s served as a hospital chaplain and is currently serving as a hospice chaplain Chester County area. Please email “Ask the Chaplain” at 4thechaplain@gmail.com or write to, PO Box 1284, West Chester, PA 19380.