The Secrets To Handling All Crises!

Has anyone ever said to you "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" during a crisis? I have said it many times. However, something is not right with this statement and this is what it is. It's a partial truth that has been stretched to the point that doesn't always resonate with those in huge crisis and it actually makes God look bad! Yes, I said that! Framing it up properly is what's needed to embrace the statement and allow it to become a helpful phrase.

I thought about this phrase for an extended amount of time today because I almost used it on a friend who called me today that was experiencing what most may call a personal crisis. She had been recently diagnosis with a serious health issue. Her mom who had traveled from out of state to help her through the serious procedure suffered a stroke and ended up in critical care for multiple weeks (far from home), as the CEO of a company, she was facing very serious decisions that were about to affect the lives of others. And as luck has it when you are distracted and worried...other issues are bound to happen. Her son wrecked her car on the way to see her at the hospital. This particular, faith filled, strong, centered woman however was handling it like a true "faith pro." Yet even the strongest of us can allow anxiety and fear to creep in during turmoil so we turn to friends and for encouragement and we are often told "God will not give you more than you can handle." It can sometimes be received as if he purposefully dealt us these cards.

What is the truth here? The truth is that God whispers to us when things aren't right and too often we ignore the whispers. It may be to slow down, take care of ourselves, pay attention to our families, tend to our LOVE BLOCKERS, etc.... We often ignore the whispers and then we end up with a crisis. We have free will to take action or not take action. God doesn't hit us with the crisis, He wants great things for us. However, He may not stop it because it may be what we need to start listening more closely in order to live our best lives. Then our merciful God uses the crisis for good (you have to choose to look at and focus on the good that comes from it). Enter free will of perception. When you see devastating pictures of huge tragedies like 911 or likewise you have to look for all the helpers to see God's work. We should not be focusing on the destruction. When I say the phrase "God never gives us more than we can handle" I frame it up in my mind as God gives us the love, strength, tools and helpers to handle ANYTHING. When it comes down to it, no matter how big or small the crisis is, the tools are the same. These are the "secrets."

• We are not to worry (It takes our power away from our healing source and makes the problem worse!) I heard you! You said, "Yeah right! How?" Get out of your head! Call a friend and let them talk about their problems! It might minimize yours. Do anything! Do something for someone else. Today I was in worry and I forced myself to clean my car with the music cranked! It helped.
• We are to "petition in prayer with thanksgiving." When you break this down and think about it, it means we have to be thankful for what's going well and pray for healing, resolution, solution and mercy on the problem.
• We must have faith. This means BELIEVING and EXPECTING God will take care of things.
• We must forgive as we have been forgiven (this includes forgiving yourself). Resentment or anger will enhance the crisis.
• We can do EVERYTHING through God who gives us strength (we need to look outside ourselves and utilize the helpers that are placed in our paths).

In some sense, God does not give us more than we can handle if we truly commit to the tools that He offers us. Does He hand us a lot of heartache and say "Ah...she's strong, she can handle this crisis,"? I don't think so. Like with all things, it's how you choose to frame the phrase. You can choose to see it as an empowering phrase or a punishment. I choose to be empowered. I choose to see that crisis comes from untended to whispers, free will and sometimes unexplained tragedies that we can't or shouldn't try to make sense of. We should grab the tools, get to work and see the helpers He sends to us. This way our love does not get blocked and keep us stuck. We continue to live the best life we can. We know we are never alone.

Has this phrase helped you or made you feel angry in your times of crisis? Did you frame it up to empower you or make you feel like you were dealt a bad hand?

I have deep gratitude for every comment/in box message received. I reflect and respond to all of them. The comments keep me encouraged to keep going! Please share! Help others be empowered!

Consider yourself loved,

Cindy