Mitchell County, NC

We know the Bible says you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. The truth is available to all, but so many people fail to find the truth or know the truth. As I have grown up, I’ve learned you better know the truth. When I was little, you would hear older people say things that I just did not understand. Like, there was this one lady who would say, “The Bible says that every tub sets on its own bottom.” If it was a good day and the skies were blue and the flowers blooming, she would say, “The Bible says every tub sets on its own bottom.” If it was a stormy day, the winds were blowing and the lightning dancing across the sky, she would say, “The Bible says that every tub sets on its own bottom.” So, since the lady said the Bible said it, I just believed it was in the Bible. Now I never really understood that.

Then one day, an old preacher got up and said something that got my attention. He said that there are people who think the Bible says things that it really doesn’t say. Like, “Every tub sets on its own bottom.” I said, “Hey, I heard that.” He said, “I want you to know that the Bible doesn’t say that.” But that is a phrase that is found in the book Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan. He was the pastor who wrote this book. The book is a Christian allegory telling the story of a Christian’s journey in life. I found out that it was not in the Bible.

Sometimes we think there are things in the Bible that are not in the Bible at all. Like people say that the Bible says that God will not ask you to do the impossible. Well, Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth.” That’s quite a lot to ask of a man who has been dead for four days, isn’t it? See, the truth is God does ask us to do the impossible. But we have to understand that God has given us what we need to do what we think is impossible to do.

People say that the Bible says, “God helps those who help themselves.” That’s not in the Bible. God helps those who cannot help themselves. That’s how we got into the family of God—we could not save ourselves. He saved us.

People say that the Bible says, “Charity begins at home.” That’s usually what people say who don’t want to give to God’s house and help other people in need. It’s all about themselves.

People say that the Bible says, “God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.” The Bible does not say that. That’s a poem by William Cowper.

People say that the Bible says, “Spare the rod, spoil the child.” The Bible does not say that either. The Bible says, “He that spareth the rod hateth the child.” That’s much different.

So sometimes what we think the Bible says are things that it really doesn’t say. You may have never heard any of those sayings that I just mentioned, and that’s OK, but I can promise you that you have heard this one. Most of you, if not all of you, have heard it, and most of you believe it to be true. Not only have you heard it, but you believe it to be true. You think it’s in the Bible, but it is not in the Bible, and it is absolutely not true. Because many Christians believe it, they are finding themselves living in total defeat, and it is only because they didn’t know the truth.

Hopefully, when you hear the truth, you will see the truth, and it will set you free from the burden that is holding you down and not allowing you to move on. We think it’s in the Bible, and we think it’s true, but it’s not in the Bible, and it’s not true. So here it is: “That God will not put on you more than you can bear.”

Because some of you have heard it and even believe it, some of you reading this are getting angry because you say your grandma and mom taught you that as a small child. I’m not disrespecting your mom or grandma; I’m just telling you that they were misinformed. Because the truth is, God will put more on you than you can bear.

Think about it—how can I stand at the casket of a 3-year-old child who had been killed in an automobile accident and tell her parents that God won’t put on you more than you can bear? See, that’s more than they can bear.

How can I look at a 6- or 7-year-old child who has seen their mom and dad, who are on drugs or drunk, get into a knock-down, drag-out fight, and the law is called in and removes the child from the home and places them in DSS custody? See, that’s more than that child can bear.

So it is not true that God will not put more on us than we can bear. Here’s the truth: God will never put on you more than He can bear. So, if you’re at the end of your rope and you can’t go any further, you’re crushed and feeling hopeless, give your trouble to the Lord and leave it there.

See, the Bible says in Matthew 11:28-29, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

So, if you’re reading this and are experiencing trouble, just be sure that you know the truth about trouble.

Pastor Steve Williams

Words of Wisdom:
• When trouble comes, focus on God’s ability to care for you. — Charles Stanley
• Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Apostle Paul
• Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble. — George Washington
• If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month. — Theodore Roosevelt

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Steve Williams is the pastor of Berry Chapel Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. You can read more good Christian news from Steve HERE.

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