By Chris WittsMonday 15 Apr 2024Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
Can you remember as a child going through an upsetting time only to have your mother say, ‘Hey, don’t worry this too will pass’. A bit of a puzzle really? When you’re hurting, you’re upset about perhaps being ignored by your friend or not getting invited to the birthday party. What was Mum talking about? This too shall pass. It’s an interesting bit of advice.
I think it’s worth thinking over for a few minutes. It’s a common saying – This, too, shall pass.
It means that one day you’ll be free from whatever you’re going through. It’s had a lot of different meanings in different situations. It was said that the US president, Abraham Lincoln, during the Civil War, kept a sign on his desk that said, ‘This too shall pass’. Indeed, the end of that awful conflict did come to pass, but after a lot of pain. Trials come, trials go, but many don’t go easily. And maybe you’ve said it yourself.
It was considered to be a popular proverb in the US in the 19 hundreds. I don’t understand what’s happening right now. We might say, but I guess it’ll pass. I feel discouraged now, but it’ll pass. I don’t see how things can get better, but one day this too shall pass. I wonder if you can think how often that statement has saved you from despair. Maybe you’ve been through deep pain or sorrow or some difficulty, and you might have taken comfort from these golden words. This too shall pass.
The reality of life
Some of us tend to fool ourselves thinking that life is beautiful and sweet all the time. But when we realise that good times don’t continue indefinitely, we’re less likely to be dismayed by the bumps and bruises of life. Have you ever known someone whose life was so smooth that they couldn’t cope when adversity came? They had convinced themselves that life rolled on untouched by difficulty or pain. Well, common sense tells me they won’t get everything their own way. So this simple phrase, this too shall pass serves as a reminder that all things both good and bad are temporary and will eventually come to an end. They carry the ability to remove weight from our shoulders.
And if you have a faith, you can say this with extra confidence because you believe in God and the fact He has a purpose for your life. I was reading about the noted British journalist politician Malcolm Muggeridge. He was well known, particularly in the UK, and was one of the great literary figures of British life in the 20th century. He’d been a TV journalist for the BBC.
Malcolm had a profound change of heart in his Christian life. He believed in Jesus, and his writings have impacted many people. When he was older, looking back on his life, he realised the painful and distressing events that actually taught him the most. Here’s what he said.
“If it were possible to eliminate the cold, hard winds of life, the result would not make life delectable, but make it too banal and too trivial to be endurable. Every happening is a parable whereby God speaks to us and the art of life is to get the message.” Now I think that statement is very helpful. Every happening is a parable where God speaks to us. This too, shall pass.
That’s got meaning when we think of it. In light of God’s involvement in Psalm 30:5 in the Old Testament, the Psalmist writes for his anger lasts only for a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning and that Bible passage suggests that even though difficult times come, they will eventually pass and be replaced by a more positive experience.
So the good news is this. God never leaves us to fend for ourselves. He promises that he will be with us. His whole heart encompasses our pain. He gives us his peace. We know that things do pass. And that phrase this too shall pass is important. This reminds us no matter what it is, it will pass.
the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians said this world and the things of this world are passing away. Do you notice that they haven’t passed yet? We’re also waiting for them to start passing. Each day draws us closer to the day when Jesus Christ will return and the world will change in an instant.
Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, how often have we despaired? Thinking that things are going to go on forever? How long can I endure this? But we know that as we trust in you that there is a purpose for everything. Lord teach us to learn what it is that you’re saying to us. Even in the midst of our troubles, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.