Week 4 – God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle
Leader Guide
This week, we will explore a few common misconceptions about this idea that “God will never give you more than you can handle.” In this life, we will still have temptations and struggles. God doesn’t promise that there won’t be a fight or that it will be an easy road. He just might give you more than you can handle—alone! But don’t despair; His plan is that you will overcome temptation when you look to Him for the way out and for His strength to take that escape. We will also look at how we can get through the hardships of this life, like illness, death, and loss.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to knowing more, exploring. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. What is a significant challenge or trial you’ve faced this year? Did you survive or thrive?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. What is the first warning in this passage? How do we know that these instructions apply to us? What difficult circumstance is common to all people? What is the promise in this verse for us? Why can’t we apply the idea that “He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability” to tragedy, illness, grief, or natural disaster?
Leader’s Note: Listen! Don’t be proud! These instructions apply to all of us, because all humans are tempted. Don’t feel guilty. Recognize this part of the human condition. Struggles and temptations are going to continue even after you become a Christian; they won’t just disappear. This is because we are still human when Jesus becomes the leader of our lives. This passage has both a promise and a strategy. God knows us. He is faithful. He will make a way for you to triumph in every temptation. You are able to overcome hardships with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This passage is specifically about temptations, not other hardships.
3. Environment. People. Intake. Read Romans 7:14-18. What conflict or “war” is described and between what two forces? In what way do you understand Paul’s frustration: “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”? Share an example of some action that has helped you overcome: a way you have avoided bad choices by changing your environment, the people you’re with, or your media intake?
Leader’s Note: These verses describe the conflict within us of flesh versus Spirit. Our struggle with temptations will still be in us, even as we grow in our faith and as we get better at avoiding it. In the message, we considered three ways out of temptation – environment, intake, and personal relationships. Answers will vary. If you’re having trouble starting the discussion, try these ideas: If I struggle with lust, I am never alone with someone of the opposite sex (other than my spouse); I stop my intake of pictures or racy shows. If I struggle with materialism, overspending, or jealousy, maybe I will avoid unnecessary shopping trips, window shopping, and “retail therapy.” I quit following fashion bloggers or home decorators. Maybe I don’t re-subscribe to Amazon Prime! If I struggle with overeating, I won’t keep my favorite snacks in the house or meet up at unhealthy eateries.
4. Read Ephesians 3:16-19. Some of the hard things that we can’t handle in life are not temptations, but illness, grief, mental distress, and other struggles. How might this Scripture strengthen us when we are facing these overwhelming problems? What are we promised? How does knowing the depth of the love of Christ change the situation? Read Revelation 21:1-5. How does a long view of eternal life, where all things are healed and new, help us deal with today’s troubles?
Leader’s Note: This is a prayer and promise for strength in hard times. Pray it for yourself or for others who are struggling. In our emptiness, we can lean on the Holy Spirit where we can find knowledge, strength, perspective (with all the saints) and understand fully God’s love. God wants to provide strength, understanding, and full satisfaction in Him. He wants us to rely completely on Him and be at peace because we understand and feel the vastness of His love for us. Read the Revelation passage as a group. There is long-term, eternal hope and healing in Jesus, no matter what situation we are facing today.
5. Action Step: Since we all deal with sin, identify a temptation you face (if you can). Take time with your Life Group to silently pray for a way out and to endure without sinning. Privately record the action you have been prompted to take. Is it a change of environment, people you connect with, or your media intake? Follow through.
Leader’s Note: Remind people that though they may have what they feel are “unspeakable sins,” they also have sins they can share. These might be things such as worry, anger, or selfishness. If they are able to go deeper, that is fine, or tell them they may also confess to one person in the group privately so that they have prayer support and / or accountability and encouragement.
Deeper
Leader: This section is designed for further use in your Life Group or for personal study. These can also be used as discussion points and ways to stay connected with your group throughout the week. Encourage your group to take time daily to walk through these questions.
Read through these passages this week and reflect on how God never said He would not give you more than you can handle.
6. Read Matthew 4:1-4. What happened to Jesus in the wilderness? What does this show us about temptation and humanity? What was the first sin Jesus was tempted to commit? How does He rebuff Satan?
Leader’s Note: Even Jesus was tempted. When He became human, He faced all the challenges that we face, including temptation to sin. Jesus was very hungry. Making bread isn’t a sin—unless God has instructed you to fast from food for a season. No matter who tells you otherwise, disobeying God is a sin. Jesus used the Scripture to rebuff Satan’s advances. He holds Satan’s suggestion up to God’s Word and determines it is not correct.
7. Read Matthew 4:5-7. What was the second sin Jesus was tempted to commit? What way out did He find in that situation?
Leader’s Note: He was tempted to test God rather than trust Him. It is interesting to note that Satan also used (and twisted) the Word of God, but Jesus, by the Spirit, used the Word of God (Truth) to confront the lies Satan told Him.
8. Read Matthew 4:8-11. What was the last sin Jesus was tempted to commit? What do you think was most tempting about this offer? How would this sin have changed our path to salvation?
Leader’s Note: In this passage, Jesus is tempted by worldly treasure, fame, and power...but the cost is for Him to submit to and worship Satan. Jesus speaks the Word of God to each attack. His “Intake” was of Scripture, and He was led by the Spirit, so that is the “Way” He fought and won the battle with lies and temptation. We fight and win our battles in the very same way. In this last example Jesus tells Satan to “be gone.” We, too, have the power to invoke the Name of Jesus and make the Devil leave us alone for a season.
7. Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Why does Paul say God has allowed there to be a “thorn” in his side? Why does Paul ask for it to be removed? Why wasn't the “thorn” removed? How could this encourage us in the face of our own “thorns?”
Leaders Note: Paul also is open about his struggles. He wants Jesus to take his challenges away from him, as any human would. He even asked three times. Paul realizes that his weakness helped keep him from becoming prideful. He also tells us God’s power is seen more in our weakness as His strength is revealed through us. We can thank God for our struggles. Rather than asking for them to be taken away, we can rely on Jesus’s strength to show us the way out. When we persevere and overcome, it is obviously God, so He gets all the glory. In fact, some of the worst struggles we endure are the most beautiful encouragements to others. We wouldn’t wish a trial or a “thorn” on anyone, but we are so thankful for others who have walked where we are walking, overcome the trial, and can comfort us with the comfort they have been given (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). The Truth is: “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b, NLT