by Pat Severin

Events of late are way beyond
what anyone can take.
God’s needed even more right now,
my heart’s about to break.

Today I heard that quote again,
how God won’t give you more
than you can handle in this life.
That saying I abhor!

Besides He never said those words,
though many think He did.
It sounds like He’s responsible.
That concept let’s forbid.

The reason that I feel like that
Is, first of all, some think
that quote comes from the Bible,
that it was penned in ink.

I can assure you it was not,
though it may sound like when
God said you won’t be tested
when it goes beyond your strength.

You don’t think that’s so different?                                                                                                                                                                   Those statements sound the same?
Then I will take those first four words
And they’ll help me explain...

God doesn’t give you what is bad.
Those first four words are wrong.
For when it comes to handling,
He’s there to make you strong.

That’s why when bad things happen,
and, we all know that they do,
God is our refuge and our strength, 
He’s there to help us through.

He doesn’t give you what is hard
and stop before you fail.
He’s there to help you navigate
so with Him you’ll prevail.

Remember that He doesn’t give
the bad things in this life.
He loves you and He’ll always help
when going through your strife.

So when you’re told that God won’t give 
more than your strength can handle,
Remember that He’ll always give
His help and it’s substantial.

When you are sad and things go wrong
brought on by this life’s sorrow,
God’s always there to help you find
a better, bright tomorrow!

---

Pat Severin is a retired Christian school teacher who serves her Lord in many ways, including teaching, church and teen ministries, and her current ministry of creating cards that include her original poems of encouragement. She sends these cards weekly to those going through difficult life struggles.
She has been published in Agape Review, Clayjar Review, Thewayback2ourselves, Words of the Lamb, Vessels of Light, Heart of Flesh and Pure in HeartStories. In addition, she has been published in many of the Southern Arizona Press Anthologies, as well as the following three books, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons I Learned from My Dog, I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans and most recently, When Love Wags a Tail: Inspiring Stories of Love, Loyalty and Laughter.