My husband, Dave, is back in Lawnwood Hospital undergoing observation and a re-assessment of his medications. One of the lovely nurses in the ER came into the cubicle where Dave was on the gurney and I was sitting next to him. She asked many questions of why he was sent to the hospital. Afterward hearing the story of his frontal lobe dementia and primary progressive aphasia, after saying “That is what Bruce Willis has” she smiled at me and said: “God will not give you more than you can handle.” I must tell you, I felt a little numb over that statement.
I know she meant it for good so I thanked her.
This popularized statement cannot be found in the Bible. It is taken from 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Matthew 4:1-11.
The phrase actually reads, depending on the version of the Bible is: ” No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Saying “God will not give you more than you can handle,” is making one think that there is an entity that is doing this to Dave when that is far from the Truth.
We all live in and are part of the common human spectrum of experiences. Our body is not who we are. Our brain is not who we are. The Truth of this statement is realizing that through taking your consciousness away from the appearances of what is happening and turning inward to ask for wisdom, it comes to you because the Spiritual aspect of our Being is an aspect of God .
Last week we spoke of eating from the tree of life or eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To eat the fruit of Life is to know God is present in this situation, wisdom is available, a way will appear when we ask and listen. Eating the fruit from the tree of Knowledge we stay stuck in the appearances which overwhelms and drains us.
This is a perfect time to use the Unity tools of Denials and Affirmations. I deny that this situation will move me from my Center of Peace where I know that good will come from this as I listen for what is the next best step for Dave.
Hold the High Watch,
Blessings, Rev Janice
