This Too Shall Pass
I wrote this blog post on May 7, 2012, not quite five years ago. I had no idea that by this point, I would hardly be walking, using a scooter 95% of the time and unable to move without a walker for the rest. Pain and serious weakness are my daily companions. As I noticed the counts on my most popular blog posts and discovered this one among the top, I am grateful that the wisdom God gave me five years ago is even more true today. And I am grateful that I can even minister to myself . . .
Sometimes it’s the simplest things that help us navigate life. The old, old adage “this too shall pass” is one of them.
No matter what trial, grief, trouble or challenge we face, there is comfort in reminding ourselves that it’s temporary. Some are very short-lived—the time crunch of a deadline, the pain of recovering from surgery, waiting for results of a test or an application. We can remind ourselves, “By this time next week (or month), this will be behind me. This too shall pass.”
Some are very long-term—a permanent disability like my polio or my dear friend and fellow Engage blogger Lael Arrington’s painful rheumatoid arthritis. The death of a loved one, or a marriage, or a cherished dream. The realization that God is choosing to give us grace for, not deliverance from, our thorn in the flesh. Even so, when we remember that our time on this earth is short compared to our life on the new earth, we can remind ourselves, “A hundred years from today, this trial will be just a memory. I can either be glad for how I handled it, or regret the short-sighted choices I made. Because this too shall pass.”
It’s helpful to remember that even the good times, the fun times, the stress-free (or low-stress) times will also pass, because life is like that. When we remember everything is temporary, it helps us hold onto sweet moments and days with a looser grasp while reminding ourselves to be grateful for the blessings we’re enjoying because “this too shall pass.” If we are mindful of the transience of the good days, we won’t be devastated when they dissipate.
“This too shall pass” is one way we can live in light of eternity, keeping our earthly life in perspective. When the hard times come, whether moments or years, we can comfort ourselves with the truth that “our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
When the good times come, we can give thanks for the way they point like signposts to heaven’s unending joy.
Which will NEVER pass away!
This blog post originally ran on May 7, 2012.
Sue Bohlin
Sue Bohlin is a speaker/writer and webmistress for Probe Ministries, a Christian organization that helps people to think biblically. She loves teaching women and laughing, and if those two can be combined, all the better. She also loves speaking for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and Stonecroft Ministries (Christian Women's Clubs) on the topic How to Handle the Things You Hate But Can't Change, based on her lifelong experience as a polio survivor. She has a freelance calligraphy business in her home studio; hand lettering was her "Proverbs 31 job" while her children were young. Sue also serves on the board of Living Hope Ministries, a Christ-centered organization that helps people struggling with unwanted homosexuality and the family members of those with same-sex attractions. Sue never met a cruise ship she didn't like, especially now that God has provided a travel scooter for getting around any ship! She is happily married to Dr. Ray Bohlin, writer and speaker on faith and science with Probe Ministries, and they have two grown sons. You can follow Sue on Twitter @suebohlin.
9 Comments
Lolly Rion
This too shall pass…
Dear Sweet, Susan:
This is a very heartfelt article today. "This too shall pass" is a great statement. I pray my situation will "pass" sometime soon.
I enjoy your comments, articles, photos and your commentaries on your trips. You are always an inspriation and give a loving look at life and its joy.
Love and Hugs,
Lolly
Sue Bohlin
Beloved Lolly
Beloved Lolly,
Thank you so much, dear one! I join you in faithfully asking for the Lord to resolve your heartache and bring you to the point where you're looking back at His answer . . . because it did pass.
Love you!
Sue
SonShine
trials etc
This a.m. as I was enjoying the gift of the devotional book “Jesus Calling” given to me by my granddaughter, the author writes: DO NOT LONG for the absence of problems in your life. That is an unrealistic goal, since in this world “you will have trouble”. You have an eternity of problem-free living reserved for you in heaven. That struck a note as I read your post.
“yes this too shall pass” and that is a good reminder of the smallness of our world and the bigness of eternity.
Sue Bohlin
Absence of problems?
Thank you, dear Gaye, for your comment! I loved how you connected the dots to today's JC reading. 🙂
Sue
Gwynne Johnson
Great reminder
Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement. Your courage encourages me! You never let your “limits” limit your heart!
Sue Bohlin
Bless you, Gwynne!
Hi Gwynne! Thank YOU for the attagirl! Bless you!!
(You're right, I'm not a big one on limits. Healthy boundaries, yes. . . but not limits. ::grin::)
Sue
Lael Arrington
So when we are catching up over tea at the River of Life Cafe…
…one hundred years, hey, one week into eternity, we will see all this pain through the glass darkly and smile. Because on that side of the glass “this too” shall never pass, no?
Sue Bohlin
Tea with Lael
Seeing the PAIN through the glass darkly?!?!?!?? Now that's an idea for ya!!
Hey, do you want to sign up for a heavenly dance class together? Like line dancing? I think I would especially enjoy that with you. Are you up for doing high kicks? Maybe jumping up into a mid-air somersault? Or break-dancing?
I've been listening to a recording of Randy Alcorn talking about life on the new earth in our new resurrected bodies. We've got some serious fun awaiting us! ::high five::
Harry Mason
God is always with us.
Sometimes we have to think like a boxer ,knowing that the strength of a blow is not measured by how long your arm is but by the weigh of the body behind it .So our faith is not measured by what we see ,but what we believe.