Are we given more than we can handle?

If you have a lost a child, spouse or some one very close to you... if you have been given a child with a disability or carry the burden of a disability or illness yourself...chances are some one has said to you that God will never give you more than you can handle. They may have even quoted this is as if they found that verse in the Bible--but it isn't really there. Chances are you didn't appreciate their well meaning words and as you held a child down who needs yet another injection or IV, or as you look into an empty crib. This is surely more than anyone should have to handle...and certainly you did not feel strong enough to bear this burden.
Will God give us more than we can handle? Absolutely. He will and He does. It doesn't always have to mean a tragedy---even those times that are just overwhelming...like today when our 12 year old stole his sister's phone on the bus and sent 400 text messages and received about the same amount (from who knows who!) and now we have a $100 overcharge (just talked to Verizon and now the overcharge bills are over $300!)..., and on those days when all the little things add up to big things and we feel so overwhelmed -- that is when we look to Him to carry us through. As hard as those times are, I am so thankful that he challenges us by giving us so much more than we couldn't possibly handle on our own--for those are the times that I don't even try to use my own strength to begin to face the situation at hand. I must go to Him or I would not survive--not for a minute.
There are some weeks, some years, when I watch God push us toward him by giving us so much more than we could ever handle on our own. And there are times when things are going pretty smoothly. When I look back, I know God was there during both of those times..but I allowed Him to reveal Himself and his strength and comfort so much more in the darkest of days. The reality is when some one says "God doesn't give us more than we can handle" it feels so wrong because it just is. God does give us so much more than we could ever handle at times in our lives. And then He is there for us in a way we could never have experienced...He displays in full technicolor, the promises He gives us in His Word..
He will never leave us or forsake us. He is our comforter. Our strength and our shield. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever...His promises are true and they will sustain us through it all...and he doesn't make mistakes.