DAY 7 | God, I Can’t Handle This. What He Gives When You Feel Overwhelmed | Excuses God Didn’t Accept

Everyone has some sort of responsibility in life. 

Some are easy, and some are challenging. Some don’t intimidate us because they are difficult, but because they expose how small we feel in comparison to the weight that has been placed on our shoulders. 

But being overwhelmed doesn’t always come from being weak. Rather, it often comes from clarity. 

You see, we recognize that what is in front of us carries weight, and something inside whispers, “This is too much, too heavy, I can’t handle this.” 

This is exactly where Solomon stood. 

After the death of his father, David, Solomon stepped into a throne that carried national expectation, divine purpose, and generational significance. He wasn’t walking into a quiet season; he was stepping into kingship at a young age, surrounded by a people who needed wisdom, stability, and direction. Solomon understood the honour, but he also felt the pressure.

So when he prayed to God, Solomon didn’t hide behind his title or pretend he was fully ready. He spoke with honesty. 

1 Kings 3:7 (NIV) says, “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” 

Solomon wasn’t literally a child—he was acknowledging the gap between his experience and his assignment. 

Many of us know that feeling personally. A role we prayed for suddenly feels heavy. A responsibility we stepped into now feels beyond us. A season we looked forward to reveals challenges we didn’t anticipate. And like Solomon, we quietly confess, “God, I don’t know how to do this.”

But notice something important here Family: God did not remove the responsibility. He did not lighten the assignment. He did not say, “You’re right—this is too much for you.” 

Instead, Solomon made a request that revealed the posture of his heart. 1 Kings 3:9 (NIV) records his prayer: “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people…” 

Solomon did not ask God to make the work easier—he asked God to make him wiser. He didn’t ask God to shrink the task—he asked God to enlarge his capacity. 

And God responded with generosity. 1 Kings 3:12 (NIV) says, “I will give you a wise and discerning heart…” 

What we can take away from this lesson today is that God doesn’t withhold what we genuinely need for the places He calls us to. 

This is consistent with His nature throughout Scripture. When Moses felt inadequate, God gave him words. When Gideon felt weak, God gave him courage. When Isaiah felt unclean, God gave him cleansing. When the disciples felt unsure, God gave them the Holy Spirit. When Paul felt burdened, God gave him sustaining grace. God always meets His people at the point of need and equips them for what lies ahead.

We often assume overwhelm is a sign we are failing, but spiritually, it is usually a sign that God is stretching us. It is evidence of an assignment that requires more than human strength. 

James 1:5 (NIV) encourages us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault…” 

God didn’t shame Solomon for not knowing what to do, and He won’t shame us either. He gives wisdom without criticism. He strengthens without condemning. He equips without hesitating.

So Angela, so Family, if life feels too heavy right now, if the calling feels too big, or if the responsibility feels beyond our experience, remember: God does not expect us to handle everything in our own strength. He expects us to come to Him for what we lack. 

Overwhelm is not proof that we don’t belong—it is proof that we need God, and that is exactly where He meets us. 

What God gave Solomon is what He offers me and you today: wisdom for decisions, clarity for confusion, strength for responsibility, and grace for every moment that feels bigger than us. 

Family, God is not asking us to be enough; He is asking us to depend on Him, just as Solomon did.