11.30.2005

Banish the Cliche'

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. -Romans 12:3

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk And so I direct in all the churches.
-1 Corinthians 7:17

But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. -2 Corinthians 10:13

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so i've decided to banish the cliche'

today's cliche is: God never gives you more than you can handle.

sure that provides comfort for some and encouragement no doubt, but does it say that anywhere in scripture? people have been telling me that lie for years. some not even Christians!

i think the cliche came from the verses listed above. the fact that God apportions faith to each of us. it is an interesting concept. one that i tend to explore in my daily dealings with the Father.

one can assume that if God has apportioned faith, then that faith will be in measure to the amount of trial you have to go through in your lifetime. but none of those verses say that faith will be doled out in equal measure to pain. Rather, in Ephesians, it says:



But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. --Ephesians 4:7



so it's through exercising the faith we have been given that we can overcome the trials we encounter. because if it's given according to the measure of Christ's gift, then it's given generously.

how much faith have i been apportioned? do i exercise that faith through more than just belief?

Father, help me to have the courage to extend my faith beyond my own ability. to accept trials and change with peace. to never live by the cliche, but in the knowledge that you are enabling me with the faith to meet whatever comes across my path on this journey toward knowing and loving you.

posted by Kelly @ 11:01:00 AM 

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

One of the things I've learned in life - and there aren't many, believe me! - is that I don't have enough faith for the next crises. I had barely enough for the last one, but this next one?

I think that's why He gives them to me. I used to think that if I just had enough faith I could accomplish 'this', or do 'that', for the Lord. Now I'm beginning to realize that by doing 'this' or 'that' I grow my faith. God, it seems, is a Teacher who gives the test first, and the lesson after.

Have you found the same thing or is it just me?

10:37 PM  
Blogger Kelly said...

you have mentioned before getting the test first, and the lesson later, and that really stuck with me.

but i like the concept that we have enough faith for today, for this hill, without standing and staring hard at the mountain range beyond., thinking we'll never be able to go THAT far.

good thoughts.

8:57 AM  

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Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

I am on a journey, searching for God and what that means in my daily life. It's not about constraints, it's not about limitations, but freedom. I know something exists beyond the visible. I live thinking about possibilities and what could be and the necessary steps to make things happen. I like long talks with a good friend, drinking tea, eating breakfast with my husband, going to a bookstore (they are the new libraries), cool mornings, windy days in the fall, learning about love and life from those who seem to have found their way, teenagers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, long baths, and connecting with another heart. I am learning how to love, how to live, when to speak and when not to, when it's time to gather the stones, when it's time to let go, surrender, forgiveness, and discipline.

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