Well…… the saying God won’t give you more than you can handle isn’t entirely true.  Why?  because the Word of God doesn’t say it.  The verse is twisted just like a lot about the nature of God.  I don’t think a mother who has just lost their son, or a family who has just lost their home in a wildfire, or a person who has been battling cancer for the past 5 years would tell you that they can just handle it.  It is not biblical and it is not the gospel.  The verse in question is 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”  The verse in context is dealing with temptation to sin.  God will provide a way of escape from sin.  He will not tempt you beyond your ability.  Temptation is a bit different than suffering.  All suffering is a result of the fall.  Suffering can be considered a test but in this context it is clear the test or temptation is for sin.  Look at verse 14 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  Where is the suffering? Not here.  Why does it not say that?

One reason is that the focus on your bearing is opposite of the gospel.  God won’t give you more than you can bear.  Reality is in scripture God doesn’t want you to bear it.   “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30 ESV)

God wants people to come to Him when they are burdened.  He wants them to cast all their suffering upon him not bear it themselves.

“Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1Pe 5:7 ESV)

Christ has suffered and died for us so that we may have life.  The thought here is Christ bearing our sin on the cross.  When we attempt to bear our sufferings and do not give them to the Lord we minimize his strength and his glory that can be shown through our life.

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  (Isa 40:29-31 ESV)

The Bible even talks about God receiving glory when we have maxed out and have nothing left.  When we are pushed over the cliff that is where God shows His glory.  Paul writes this about being burdened beyond our strength.

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” (2Co 1:8-10 ESV)

The point of the suffering is to point us to Christ the one who suffered for us and has given us life.  If we could only say “I don’t know what your going through but God does and resting in Christ will help you endure.”