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God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Handle

PARENTING AFFIRMATION
I will treasure my kids’ unique personalities and foster their unique talents.  Psalms 139:14  and I’m a better parent when I take care of myself.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 1 Peter 5:7

BIG IDEA
When your friends or family are struggling, don’t offer them  more of their own strength.  Don’t tell them, You can handle this.  God would never give you  more than you can handle.  Instead, point them to the peace that Jesus provides.

READ
33 “I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have won the battle over the world. John 16:33  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
In John 16:33, Jesus tells us we will experience trouble.  Why does He tells us this?  
  • What type of trouble do we experience as a family?  (Think about work difficulties, friendship problems, hard classes at school, sickness and more.)
  • When facing trouble or problems, what does that feel like?  Do you like it?
  • When you are facing trouble, where can we turn for help and peace?

Sometimes that is trouble with a capital “T”.  You might feel like you will break in the middle of that trouble, in these times we can remember:

  1. Our value:  Matthew 6:25-26 - God values you over the trouble and things of the world.
  2. Our limitations: Matthew 6:27-30 - We can’t handle everything on our own.  We need a Savior.
  3. Our attention: Matthew 6:31-33 - Seek first God and His righteousness, holiness, Godliness

    • What is the best way to help someone who is facing tough times or troubles?
    • Have you ever told someone that God will not give them more than they can handle?  If yes, why did you say that?  Do you believe it?  Why? If no, what do you say instead?  Why do you believe that is better?  Prove it with Scripture.  The best way to combat things that we think are true is to test it with the Bible.  Where does the Bible say that?  Who was speaking?  Does it direct us toward God or other things?
    • What should you say to encourage someone who is struggling or hurting?

FAMILY ACTIVITY
Let’s do a little role playing.  I am going to give each person a situation that could be viewed as “trouble”.  We are going to practice helping each other through that trouble, remember to use the tools we learned about today to help us focus on what is true.  Trouble ideas:  getting a bad grade on a test,  not making the team, losing some money, getting hurt and needing medical attention, moving, etc.  Feel free to add other troubles you know your family has faced.  It would be fun to have a buzzer. If anyone says anything close to “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle,” the person who said that would get the big buzzer.
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