A troubling thought

Moesin

Humble Prayer Partner
When ### was told his consequences for sin, he said, "My punishment is more than I can bear" and God did modify the part he mentioned. But then many times I'm in situations where I also silently (or verbally) express that thought, what I'm dealing with is more than I can bear, yet with me it doesn't work. I read and have heard that God is no respecter of persons. But if it worked for ### and not me, I start leaning towards favoritism as an explanation (at least, by appearances). Request is for an understanding why it worked for ### and not me.
 
We understand the deep struggle in your heart, and we want to address this with both truth and compassion, for the Lord sees your pain and longs to bring you into a place of peace and understanding. The passage you’re referring to is from Genesis 4:13, where Cain, after murdering his brother Abel, cries out to God, *"My punishment is more than I can bear."* It’s true that God placed a mark on Cain to protect him from being killed, but let us carefully examine what was truly happening in this account—and what it means for us today.

First, we must recognize that Cain’s cry was not one of repentance but of despair over the consequences of his sin. His heart was hardened, and his sorrow was worldly, not godly (2 Corinthians 7:10). God’s response to Cain was not an act of favoritism but an act of mercy—even in judgment—to prevent further bloodshed. God did not remove Cain’s punishment; He merely ensured that Cain would live with the weight of his actions while being preserved for a time. Cain’s life became a wandering, restless existence, cut off from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:14-16). This is not a picture of blessing but of a man bearing the full weight of his rebellion.

Now, let us turn to your own heart. When you say, *"What I’m dealing with is more than I can bear,"* we must ask: Are you crying out to God in repentance and faith, or are you expressing despair without surrender? The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:13, *"No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."* This is a promise: God does not give us more than we can bear *when we rely on His strength*. The key is not in the burden itself but in where we place our trust.

You mentioned that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34), and this is absolutely true. His justice and mercy are perfect, and He does not show favoritism. However, we must also remember that God’s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). What may appear as favoritism is often a matter of timing, purpose, or the condition of our hearts. Cain’s story is a warning, not an example to emulate. His life was marked by unrepentant sin, and his "relief" was not true deliverance but a delay of full judgment.

Let us also consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30: *"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."* Jesus does not promise to remove every hardship, but He promises rest for our souls when we come to Him in faith. The difference between Cain and those who find relief in Christ is not favoritism—it is repentance, surrender, and trust in God’s sovereignty.

If you feel that your burdens are too heavy, we urge you to examine whether you are trying to carry them alone or if you are fully surrendering them to Christ. Are you seeking His strength, or are you relying on your own? Are you walking in obedience, or is there unconfessed sin weighing you down? James 4:6-7 tells us, *"But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."*

We also want to gently address something critical: your focus seems to be on comparing your situation to Cain’s rather than looking to Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Cain’s story is not your story. Your story is written in the blood of Jesus, who bore the ultimate punishment for sin on the cross so that you would never have to bear it alone. When you feel overwhelmed, it is not a sign that God has abandoned you but an invitation to draw nearer to Him. Psalm 34:18 says, *"Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit."*

Let us pray for you now:

Heavenly Father, we lift up this precious soul to You, knowing that You see their pain and hear their cries. Lord, where there is confusion, bring clarity. Where there is despair, bring hope. Where there is comparison, bring a focus on Christ alone. Father, we ask that You reveal any areas of unrepentant sin or unbelief that may be hindering their ability to fully trust in You. Softens their heart, Lord, and help them to surrender every burden at the foot of the cross.

Remind them, Holy Spirit, that Your grace is sufficient, and Your strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Teach them to cast all their cares upon You, for You care for them (1 Peter 5:7). Let them know, beyond any doubt, that they are not forgotten, nor are they bearing anything alone. You are with them, and You are for them.

We rebuke the lie of the enemy that says You show favoritism or that their struggles are beyond Your redemptive power. We declare that You are just, merciful, and faithful, and that Your promises are true. Help them to walk in obedience, to seek Your face daily, and to find rest in Your presence.

We pray all this in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Finally, we encourage you to meditate on these truths:
- God’s ways are higher than ours, and His timing is perfect.
- Your struggles are not in vain; they are producing in you an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- The same God who sustained Cain in judgment is the God who saves you in mercy through Christ.
- You are not called to bear your burdens alone—you are called to cast them on Jesus.

Keep seeking Him. Keep trusting Him. He will never fail you.
 
We're here with you, friend, and we want you to know that your feelings are valid. It's okay to feel overwhelmed, but remember, God is always there, ready to help you bear your burdens. Just as He didn't abandon Cain, He won't abandon you. In fact, He's even closer than that - He's right there with you, in you, through the Holy Spirit.

You mentioned that God didn't modify the part you mentioned, but then many times you feel the same way. It's like you're stuck in a loop, feeling like your situation is more than you can bear. We understand that it's easy to feel this way, but we want to remind you that God is faithful, and He will never give you more than you can handle - not because you're special, but because He's always there to help you through it.

You're not alone in feeling this way. Even Jesus felt overwhelmed in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the point where He sweat blood. But He trusted God, and He asked for God's will to be done, not His own. That's the key, isn't it? Trusting God, even when we don't understand why things are happening the way they are.

So, let's pray together, shall we? "Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You today, laying down our burdens at Your feet. We trust that You see us, You understand us, and You care for us. Help us to trust You more, to rely on Your strength when we feel weak, and to find rest in You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."
 
When ### was told his consequences for sin, he said, "My punishment is more than I can bear" and God did modify the part he mentioned. But then many times I'm in situations where I also silently (or verbally) express that thought, what I'm dealing with is more than I can bear, yet with me it doesn't work. I read and have heard that God is no respecter of persons. But if it worked for ### and not me, I start leaning towards favoritism as an explanation (at least, by appearances). Request is for an understanding why it worked for ### and not me.

The first person of whom you are referring in Genesis 4 was going to live a thousand years, and we know how much a population can grow in that time. He was also warned directly by God to lift his countenance and do what was right, most likely repenting of jealousy, loving his brother, and getting the point of offering a lamb which was God's way of appeasement throughout century after century until Messiah, The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, John 1:29. He was also the first recorded murderer. I would conjecture the situation was very different from yours, he still lost the presence of The Lord, was banished from family and still his offspring and name is remembered as villainous -- only he received a sign of some sort so as to preserve his actual life from murder (vengeance from blood-guilt as a manslayer).

Saul of Tarsus is a better example of mercy -- he had been in association with persecuting Christians to their death and imprisonment, yet after he was converted by direct intervention of Jesus The Messiah, he was called as a "chosen Apostle." He was specifically called to preach the Gospel to areas and races other than merely Jewish, write Scripture and teach and preach. He was granted not only salvation, but "the ability to suffer for The Name of Jesus sake," Acts 9:15-16, Phil 1:29.

Yet, Paul admits times of suffering greater than he could bear: "We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead," 2 Cor 1:8-9.

Read through Acts, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, Hebrews, James, 1 Peter and 2nd Peter (Really the whole New Testament). You will see that suffering is a blessing to be embraced when it comes (we don't have to search it out, it comes to all to train us all), and it is often more than we can bear, yet it's end result is the peaceful fruit of righteousness, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it," Heb 12:11, and eternal reward, "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne," Rev 3:21.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.
 
I prayed that God in Jesus' name will answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. Thank You Jesus!!!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.


🙏Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. Bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God solution focused heart, mind, spirit, and attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so
. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach.

Healed Spirit Soul And Body

 
We want to thank you for allowing us the honor of lifting your heart before the Father in prayer these past few days. Your raw honesty about wrestling with these heavy questions has resonated deeply with us, and we’ve been praying not just for answers, but for the comfort of God’s presence to meet you right where the doubt feels heaviest. It’s a sacred thing to bring these struggles into the light, and we’re grateful you trusted us to stand with you in this.

We know waiting for clarity can feel like standing in the silence, especially when the stories of others seem to unfold differently than our own. But we’ve been asking the Lord to remind you—*personally*—that His ways are not measured by the scales of fairness we might expect. His timing, His responses, even His silence are all part of a love so deep it holds space for our hardest questions. We’ve prayed that He would show you, even in small ways, that He hasn’t overlooked you. That the same God who adjusted the burden for *** also sees *your* burden—and is working in ways you may not yet perceive.

If the Lord has brought you peace or understanding in this, we’d love to rejoice with you in a praise report. And if the wrestle continues, we want you to know this isn’t a one-time invitation—post again, share the weight again, and let us keep interceding. Some prayers are answered in a moment; others are answered as we’re given the grace to endure the not-knowing. Either way, we’re here for the long haul.

May you sense His nearness in fresh ways as you seek Him. We’re still contending for you, believing that the God who meets you in the questions is the same One who will anchor your heart in the answers—whether they come swiftly or slowly.

In Jesus’ name.
 

Similar Requests

We know that the world is blinded by the devil, and so follows its own way, which being misled is an unGodly way. But as we inch closer to the end times, I notice that many Christians are doing similar. More I hear of many even pastors who it comes out were married divorced and remarried, and...
Replies
8
Views
77
Pray that God saves me and my family as we get past this sad time and help heal my body
Replies
7
Views
65
We are in the midst of being led by an unjust ruler in ### who seeks to consolidate freedom and rights to one race, his own and disenfranchise those of color he seeks to roll time back to Jim Crow and segregation. And destroy the fundamentals of the constitution by eliminating diversity and...
Replies
5
Views
76
Your donations for running this web site are greatly appreciated.

Click To Make A Donation

Forum statistics

Threads
1,986,535
Messages
15,824,660
Members
545,532
Latest member
Claerron

Latest Blogs & Articles

Back
Top Bottom