This Too Shall Pass

Encouragement in suffering.


Whenever I think about the saying, "this too shall pass",  I hear it in my head stated very dramatically as if by a 16th Century King lifting his hand up, his signet ring catching the light.  Weird, I know...  lol.

As Believers, we are well acquainted with stories of suffering in the Bible as well as stories of martyrs most of whom suffered willingly for God's glory.

But yet this is not our natural response.  We want the suffering to  go away. {I wrote more about this is in my post How to Foster Hope When Circumstances Disappoint which you can read HERE.}

This Too Shall Pass - Where did the time go??


The older I get, the faster life seems to go by!  I can remember as a small child it seemed like the month of December lasted 10 years before Christmas would finally arrive.  lol.

Then there are the school age years, where we long for the day of no more school and no more homework.

We get married and have children.  In those early childhood years, we can feel isolated and overwhelmed, and in the moment, it can seem to drag by, but then suddenly, without warning, your little one is entering Kindergarten.

I don't know why, but for some reason this year it is really hitting me how fast life goes with impending high school graduations of both of my nieces.  It feels like just yesterday they were born!  Where did those 17 years go??

That and the fact that I will be 60 next year, and when I add a "fast" 17 years to that, well let's just say, whoa!!  lol.

With age comes perspective for sure.  I can recount back to many situations in my life both happy seasons and sad seasons, easy seasons and difficult seasons, where indeed the old adage fits, "This too shall pass".

Nothing is truly constant in life.

We all want the happy times to stick around forever, and we probably all feel like the bad times will never end.  It certainly can feel that way.

This Too Shall Pass - Clarity from the Beatitudes


I've heard the beatitudes countless times, but this weekend, when my Pastor read them at the beginning of the service, one small little word jumped out at me - "now".

And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,  who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.  And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

The Beatitudes
 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!

Luke 6:17-22

I hadn't noticed the different aspects of the beatitudes until this weekend just from the word "now".

For two of them, the blessing is concurrent with the condition.

We may be poor, but ours is the Kingdom of God.

We ARE blessed when hated, excluded and reviled, because of the Son of Man.

And the other two beatitudes from this portion of Scripture are filled with great hope and promise that this too shall pass...

 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

Jesus gives us a beautiful Word picture of that hope realized as a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and  Sidon, came to hear Jesus and be healed of their diseases, and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.  All the crowd who touched Jesus received His power and were healed.

It does not say how long those who came to be healed had suffered.  I mean think of the hemorrhagic women from the Bible...

A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years,  and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak.  For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”  Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
Mark 5:25-29

They could've suffered just as long if not longer.  Where was there, "this too shall pass"?

I do not suffer long well - at all!

Years ago, I had a sickness that rendered me very weak and dizzy for six weeks.  While in the thick of it, I thought it would never end.  I became irritable and depressed.

I have had seasons of anxiety, that seemed to last forever, where I became more anxious about wondering if it would ever go away - and of course, it did pass...

I'm sure you could add your own experiences about situations you wanted to end but kept on going.  You may be in one of those seasons now.

But take heart, this too shall pass!!

It's interesting that the focus of those two hope filled beatitudes are about areas of the human condition that are very painful.  How many times do we read in the Old Testament that the Israelites were feeling desperate and concerned for lack of food when they were in the desert.  Or those in the Bible who wore sack cloth and ashes and wailed following the death of a loved one.

And hunger comes in many forms.  You may be hungry for love, hungry for friendship, hungry for fellowship.

And weeping, of course, results from many circumstances.

But God, He promises that they will only last for a season.

This Too Shall Pass - An Attitude Shift


During one of my mindfulness meditation practices, the exercise has you focus on sensations in the body and to stay with it until it goes away.  And indeed the sensation DOES go away!  It's a very experiential way of realizing the ever-changingness of life.  {To learn about how I applied Mindfulness Meditation to the Christian Life, please head over to my post HERE.}

Some of you, like myself, may have a physical situation that indeed will not change unless by a miracle from God.  I have a blocked tear duct that I have had for about 5-6 years now and it will not open up again on its own.  I could have surgery for it, but at my age, those surgeries usually fail within a year or so and then your condition may be worse than at the start.  Certainly, I could have the surgery, and "this too shall pass", and certainly, I could wake up one morning and it could be gone because the Lord healed me OR this side of Heaven it won't be healed.  But that doesn't mean it hasn't passed in another sense.  What has passed is my resentment and anger toward my condition.  I have a way that I manage it which, well, makes it manageable.  lol.  In fact, the doctor liked my "technique" so much, he said he was going to pass it along to other female patients.  lol.

This doesn't mean that "this too WON'T pass"...  Like in my case, the Lord can bring about a change in circumstances for any of you through an attitude shift.

As an almost 60 year old, I have learned that it is important to enjoy EVERY moment to it's fullest.

I discovered this quote on a free printable from a blogger, but I don't know who the author is.

Be happy for this moment.
This moment is your life.

Great words to live by!  After all, Jesus died so that we could have life and have it abundantly.

Treasure the happy moments because they will pass as well, but take heart, they will return once again.  Jesus promises that!

But then that Great Day will come when our time on earth shall pass...  There will be no more crying,  no more pain.  We will pass from this ever-changing life to a never-changing eternity, EVERY moment will be happy and peace-filled because we will be in the presence of Jesus.




You might find me on these link-ups:

Grace & TruthWoman to Woman Ministries, Inspire Me MondayA Wise Women Builds Her HomeSpiritual Sundays, Soul Survival,  Good Morning MondaysTell His StoryFaith & Fellowship Blog Hop  Tuesday Talk   Faith 'N Friends Sitting Among Friends   House to Home  ,Wonderful Wednesday , Literacy Musings Mondays,Imparting GraceDance with Jesus Booknificent Thursdays  Fresh Market Friday Moments of Hope Wonderful Wednesdays , Tea & Word Tuesday Heart Encouragement Thursday Hearts for Home Messy Marriage Link-up Friday at the Fire Station Link-up Tune In Thursday Faith on Fire Link-upSunday Scripture Blessings Link-up, Sunday ThoughtsWriter Wednesday, Faith Filled Friday God Sized Dreams Link-Up Sitting Among Friends Be Thee Inspired Graceful Tuesday Link-up Aprons & Pearls Link-up Trekkingthru Link-up  Encouraging Word Wednesday  Grace Moments Link-up  Encouraging Hearts and Home Worth Beyond Rubies Seeking Sabbath Scripture and a Snapshot IHeart Verse Welcome Heart Kingdom Bloggers Outdoorsy Mommy Anchored Truth Tuesdays IHeart Verse InstaEncouragements

Comments

  1. I am 57, I have days that drag by and months that fly past. It is strange how we view time when God is eternal.

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    1. Hi Rebecca, Indeed.

      To have an eternal perspective here on earth, now that's joy.

      Delete
  2. I am in my mid-sixties and I am learning to be present in every moment whether it's joyful or sad. I'm learning to see God's presence always with me. It's such a comfort to know that when this life is past, we will have eternity with Jesus. Blessings to you! I'm your neighbor at #LMMLinkup.

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    1. Hi Gayl, In the last few years, I am definitely learning the art of being present in the moment, but I haven't learned yet to be present in times of sadness or trial. You've encouraged me that it is just as important to be present in those times, for our times are all in God's hands.

      Indeed what great comfort that brings.

      Thanks so much for visiting neighbor. :-)

      Delete
  3. Time definitely does fly by when you look at children. I keep looking at my kids and thinking where did my babies go?

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    1. Hello Petersen Family, I know! My granddaughter just turned four and I'm like, how did that happen??

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

      Blessings,

      Delete
  4. Beautiful thoughts you have shared, and truly suffering is not ever considered a "blessing" in our world of self indulgence, selfies and "me Me me", is it! But many years ago the Lord confirmed that to me as well... that being blessed in God's eyes is MUCH different than being blessed in man's eyes. And truly time is short, and the days pass far too quickly, but soon we will have our heavenly eternal bodies that will never get old, and that thought reassures me that I make the most of my journey here, as it is just a blink of an eye. May the Lord bless you sweet friend!

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    1. Hi Marilyn, Thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts here. I appreciate it so much!

      Blessings to you too!

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  5. I heard a quote once that said "time is the crucible in which we burn" I think this is very poignant.
    My eldest daughter is 42 & my granddaughter is 19 now! Where on earth did that time go! Soo fast...
    I'm glad eternity with the Father is ahead ;-)
    Blessings,
    Jennifer

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    1. Hi Jennifer, Oh! I've never heard of that quote before. Thank you for sharing.

      Indeed, we've only just begun! :-)

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  6. What a beautiful, honest look at God's word. I'm so grateful that the time we spend here is just a hint at what we have to come.

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    1. Hi Rebecca, Thank you so much for your kind words.

      Amen! Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has planned for those who love Him.

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  7. The beauty of living in the promises of God ❤. I was diagnosed with complex PTSD in 2015 and was so glad to be "healed" after therapy, but when trauma triggers had me reeling God too showed me beauty in my brokenness and how the wind and waves were teaching me to lean deeper into Him: the Truth who calls me healed and whole in Him. So your post is beautiful to me. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Anna, Thank you so much for adding to the conversation with such transparency. Praising God for His healing and how He showed you beauty in brokenness and what a faithful God He is.

      And thank you so much for your very kind words. They mean so much.

      You are welcome.

      Blessings,

      Delete
  8. I agree - the older I get, the more time seems to fly by, especially since I retired a year and a half ago. I am enjoying every minute, though. Very grateful for the time I have.

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    1. Glad you are enjoying your retirement!

      Indeed!

      Thanks so much for stopping by.

      Delete
  9. What a blessed hope we have, as an anchor for the soul, as the old song says! We see our outward body perishing and becoming more and more riddled with challenges, yet our inward man is being renewed day by day. So thankful there is a home beyond this life where all will be as you described. Oh, thank You, Jesus, for making a way for us to come be with You forever!! So happy to visit with you today, sweet friend, as always. Many blessings are coming your way, in Jesus' name! I just felt led to tell you that. :)

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    1. Hi Cheryl! Thank you so much for reminding me of that precious verse! Indeed our inward man is being renewed day by day!

      Amen!

      Thank you so much for your sweet, heartfelt words to me. I've really been working on acknowledging the fact that God's blessings are meant for me too. I often think when I pray for myself that this will be my lot and my prayer won't be answered, but when I pray for others, I pray boldly believing God for the answer.

      Your final words to me in this comment were further confirmation of the Lord reminding me, "Yes Karen, you are my child and will receive all my blessings; none will be held back from you".

      Thank you so much for sharing that with me. You indeed are one of my biggest blessings from the Lord! Sending much love and gratitude to you.

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  10. Oh, how I needed this today. I am in a current circumstance where I am in extreme pain 24/7. Just this morning, I was depressed and wondering if this would ever end. Thank you so much for the encouragement, that this to shall pass.

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    1. I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering 24/7. Praising God that He led you to my humble blog and that He ministered to you through this post.

      Praying for your physical and emotional healing as you are in this difficult season. May you feel His presence and His peace.

      You are very welcome.

      Blessings,

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  11. The older I get the faster times seems to fly by :/. I like the point you make about things only lasting for a season. And it's good to know that God will equip us for that season.

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    1. Hi Anita, Yup! lol.

      Indeed and Amen!

      Thanks for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  12. I can relate to both sides of that time equation. I used to be shocked to realize my youngest had graduated from high school and now his daughter is married and expecting a baby! But there are other things that do seem to wear on. I love the verse in Hebrews 12 where it talked about God's discipline and says, "... afterwards ..." There is an afterwards, either in this life or the next!

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    1. Hi Donna, Oh my! How wonderful to be a great grandparent!

      Yes! Thanks for reminding about that verse.

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

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  13. I love this post and reference to the Beatitudes. This, too, shall pass. Excellent way of looking at our circumstances when we trust in God for the victory to overcome, no matter what it is. I always look forward to His victory as He gets the glory for it! It's amazing!

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    1. Hi Cindy, Thanks so much for your kind words.

      Yes! and Amen!

      Thanks so much for stopping by. :-)

      Delete
  14. Karen, I am praying for healing for you today. Thanks for sharing your heart on the #LMMLinkup. Your post was the most clicked last week.

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    1. Hi Mary, Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

      You are very welcome.

      Oh! Thank you for letting me know. :-)

      Delete

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