I Don't Think I Can Take This Any Longer....

"No temptation has over-taken you except such as is common to man; but God
is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,
but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be
able to bear it. "(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV)

I know that there have been many, many times in my life that I have said the
words, "I don't think that I can take this any longer." I know that you
have too. I said it as a child when I was on restriction. That means that
I had been bad and I got grounded for a week or two to the house depending
just how bad I had been. I said it in school while doing homework well into
the night. I said it when a date went bad and I could not wait for the guy
to drop me off at home. Later in life things became a little more serious
but I still said the same thing. I know I said it when my pregnancy went
past my due date and I looked like a tic ready to pop. Then I really said
it during labor. And I said it when I had two babies in diapers at the same
time. I said it when the kids were running all over the house making a mess
of what I had just cleaned up. I said it going through my divorce. I know
I said it on more than one bad job that I had. And I said it during the
biggest challenge in my life and that was my years of sexual abuse at the
hands of my father. But I am still here. And I survived what I thought I
could not survive. It was God that brought me through when I was a child
and did not really know Him. But He knew me. Later in life I learned to
say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians
4:13 NKJV) And I say "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 6-7 NKJV)

God does not give anyone more than he or she can take. We are much stronger
and braver than we can ever imagine until faced with a crisis. Why would
you want to go it alone when we have a Father in heaven who will guide us
through our hard times? When you are faced with a crisis, don't panic.
Calm down and realize that because you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord
and Savior, you have an advocate with the Father. Know that you can give
your burdens to him. In fact He tells you to give Him your burdens.
(Matthew 11: 28-30) You have a friend by your side. Wasn't it easier going
to a scary movie when you were a kid when your friend went with you? Wasn't
it easier going through your dating trials when you had a friend to confide
in? Wasn't studying for an exam in school easier when you studied with
someone else? Isn't being on a hard job nicer when you have a shoulder to
cry on? Of course it is. So in your deepest and darkest moments of
personal trial and despair, turn to Christ to be your shoulder to cry on.
Tell Him that "I don't think that I can take this anymore" and He will tell
you that yes you can through Him. And remember, that which does not kill us
makes us stronger....Patti