Biblical Weightlifting

I am bursting with joy right now and I need to get it out. So, you all get to hear about it.

I just arrived home from Bible Study, where were were studying God's promises. We studied that there are 2 general types of promises: Personal and Universal. Personal promises are made to an individual or a specific group of people (ie. The Israelites.) For example, when God promised Abram a son in his old age, that was a personal promise to the specific person of Abram. Therefore, I am not included in the promise (aka God has not promised to give me a son in my old age.) There are however, Universal promises as well, which are made for all people.

Within these two categories, there are also Conditional promises and Unconditional promises. Conditional promises have conditions--we have to do something as well. For example, in Mathew 6:33, the Bible says "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you" ("these things" signifying our material needs, see v.31.) If we do not first complete the condition (seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness) he will not fulfill the promise (giving us all things.) Unconditional promises, on the other hand require nothing of us. It is simply a promise that God will fulfill regardless of what we do (ex. God promised never again to destroy the earth by water)

We were studying some of God's universal promises and the pastor asked for examples of promises that God has completed in our lives. Someone spoke of 1 Corinthians 10:13 which says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

"Is that a conditional promise, or an unconditional promise?" the pastor asked.

After rereading the passage we decided that it was unconditional because there is no prerequisite given, nothing that we, as humans, have to do. Everything is on God.

Wow, I felt like I had been hit by a truck...a really light, fluffy truck, full of chocolate.

So, that means that God is saying that he will NEVER give us any temptation (also translated as problem or struggle) that we cannot handle and that he will always provide a way out. AND that it never depends on me and whether or not I've completed my half of the promise. He just does it.

Therefore, even when I am going through situations and I feel as if I can't handle it anymore, God will provide the means for me to "aguantarme" (to bear or endure) until He provides a way out. But that I will never be presented with a situation that I absolutely CAN'T handle with the help of God. So cool.

The pastor used the example of lifting weights. I, a weakling, cannot lift very much weight. Maybe 50 pounds. However, my brother, who is much stronger than me can lift much more. We'll say 150 pounds. God will never give me any more weight to lift than 50 pounds. He may give me 49 or even 50 and I will struggle, because it is my limit, but he will never give me even 50.00001. However, someone such as my brother, who can lift much more, will receive a larger amount, yet never more than their personal limit.

If a weight lifter wants to be able to lift more weight in the future, they need to do a little more every day. Similarly, God will give us more and more and we can handle it. That's not to say however, that he will constantly be loading us with our absolute limit. Even professional weight lifters don't bench their maximum weight the entire time they are in the gym, nor even every time they go. Rather, they allow their bodies to rest, and train gradually, and only sometimes bench their maximum, so that when the time comes, they will be ready and able to lift their absolute max.

But, some may say, I'm already feeling overwhelmed at 10 pounds. Maybe it's better if I never accomplish this because I don't want to experience 20 pounds. Yet, once someone has been lifting weights for a while and they improve, the 10 pounds that once used to cause them to sweat and pant now seems easy. The same in life, if we grow in God and with his help push through our trials, then when a similar situation comes again it will seem easy and no longer an immovable weight.

With all this in mind, we now know that no matter WHAT happens to us--death of a loved one, sickness, school, stress, job loss, the economy, children, friends---whatever it may be, we can always stand up under it, like a weightlifter stands up under their weight. God will never give us more than we can lift. Even when things look despairing--believe me, I've had several desperate times this year--we can have peace in our hearts and confidence that God will provide a way and that we will stand up under it. That is an UNCONDITIONAL PROMISE FOR ALL PEOPLE!!!

My new understanding of this verse gives me so much joy, I could hardly keep from crying in the meeting. I wanted to share it with all of you, so that you too may experience the freeing joy that comes from knowing that you do not have to worry, because God will provide a way in everything. That's a promise.