I Can't Take Anymore<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 
by Walter Martin
  
 
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7
  
God is trying to tell you, "I want to give you peace in your intellect.  I want to give you peace in your soul.  I want to give you the capacity to endure."  No test will come upon us that God will not make it possible for us to endure.  He won't permit us to be tested beyond our capacity to resist.
I can say, "Hallelujah" to that one.  There are many times in my life when I've gotten to the place where I've said, "I can't stand it!  I can't take anymore."  How many times have you said, "I can't handle this, Lord?"
Not to worry . . . God answers us, "Talk to me about it."  We need to remember who made us, and who knows us best.  We didn't create the little chromosomes, we didn't structure the genes, and we had nothing to do with DNA.  Sometimes we think we know so much, but in the essence of it all, we know so very little.  God wants to give us peace.  John 14:27 promises, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
We have the gift of peace from God, and it cannot be counterfeited.  But Jesus did tell us something quite interesting.  He said, "My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives."  So, it is possible for the world to give peace.  It can give peace in terms of money, or in terms of being out of your mind on drugs or alcohol.  It can give you peace with security-there are all types of peace that the world gives, but they are not in any way comparable to the peace which surpasses all understanding Christ gives.
The peace the world gives is temporary because the world is temporary and everything changes.  But the peace that Christ gives never changes.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the person born again in the twentieth century has the same peace as the person in the first century.  Christ is the Prince of Peace.
Satan may have things that appear to give peace, but he cannot truly duplicate the peace of God.  He only has some poor imitations running around the landscape.
When you are in the midst of a test that brings you to your knees-don't be fooled by the enemy.  Ask God for His perfect peace in Jesus Christ.  When you believe you cannot take anymore, call on Him.  We are God's people and His sheep.  He cares.  God wants us to come to Him-to trust Him-that He may give us rest.