SWHW Two Year Bible Reading Plan: March, Year 2Sample

Top Takeaway from Lauren Diggs:

“God will never give you more than you can handle.” If you’ve been a Christian for any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve heard (or maybe even said) this before. And while this quote’s intentions are good, it’s not at all true.

We see that played out here in Hosea, Chapters 1-4. The life God called Hosea to was way more than he could handle. I’m sure it was more than he wanted. And not at all what he would've chosen for himself. 

Through his faithful obedience to God, Hosea knowingly married Gomer, a woman that would be unfaithful to him. She chased after idols and other men to fulfill her. But Hosea remained faithful and loved her unconditionally. 

I’m gonna be honest here; I’m not sure I would have the same response to God’s call as Hosea did. I mean, I get fussy when I get in my car and my heated seat isn't turned on. Being uncomfortable isn’t something I think any of us intentionally aim to be. 

But isn’t that what God sometimes does? He asks things of us that are uncomfortable and far too much for us to handle. Why? Because it requires us to lay aside our comfort for complete dependence on Him. And isn’t anything that comes from complete dependence on Him better than anything that comes from our comfortable little bubbles? 

Listen, I love a good Netflix binge just as much as the next girl, and it has its place, but there is nothing like watching the Word of God come alive in someone’s life right before your very eyes because you traded your comfy couch position and favorite blanket for a weekly Bible study when the Lord asked you to. 

Now, I don’t think God is asking any of us to marry someone who we know will be unfaithful and then to pursue them when they’ve run off. I’m not God so I can’t say with 100% certainty that He won’t, but I do know we’ve all had, have, or will have a “Gomer” that God is asking us to pursue--something or someone to get us outside our comfortable space and far more than we could handle on our own. 

We must be willing to set aside our own comfort for complete dependence on God no matter what. It’s not only for us but for those around us, too. 

This is by no means easy, but we can be sure that the One Who’s asking is in control. We can be sure that the One Who’s asking is working for our good and the good of others. And we can be sure that the One Who’s asking isn’t asking us to do it alone or in our own strength. 

So, let Hosea’s example remind us of this truth today: complete dependence on God will always be greater than our own comfort.

God, thank You for loving us unconditionally and showing us time and time again that You are working for our good, not to harm us. Help us to remember this when what You’re asking seems too hard or too much for us to handle. Remind us that we are not alone and You will give us everything we need to accomplish Your purpose. Give us the courage to step out in faithful obedience to You and to live a life that is completely dependent on You and You alone. We love You. Amen.