I used to have a coworker that was full of trivial knowledge. It was fascinating (at times) and some of the fun facts really stuck with me. I remember the day when this coworker shared about the history of the popular saying, “this too shall pass”. Most of us use this saying during tough times, usually in an effort to help give perspective to the fact that even our darkest days eventually give way to better times. But, in learning the history behind it I learned that the saying was in essence a homework assignment to advisors of a king (believed to be King Solomon). The king wanted one phrase that would allow him to feel happy when he was down, and to give him perspective that the good times don’t last forever too. Hence the assignment was returned with the phrase, “this too shall pass”. In either season, whether good or bad, the statement is true.
All those years of using that phrase in the context of just bad times were busted in that moment…
As summer continues, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to various places – out to Arizona to visit my parents, to the beach with the family and on my first ever cruise with my Mom and Aunt. It’s all felt like a “mountaintop” season. Lots of family time, adventure and memories made. It’s the type of season that you want to hold onto and have last a little longer if you could. But as we know, vacations come to an end and life keeps moving. No one knows what the future holds in regards to good times or bad. Which then makes me question where does a constant come into play? The answer becomes pretty obvious – it’s God. And the great news is that the constant isn’t just a middle point on all the ebbs and flow of life like this:
It’s more like this:
In the book of Ecclesiastes 2:1-8, the author writes about having experienced some of the most yearned for “mountaintop” moments in life – amazing food, fine wine, a huge home, a beautiful vineyard, wealth and entertainment. And in the end, he said it was all meaningless. The real meaning that he found in life and the efforts worth pursuing were to worship and obey God, knowing that above everything else He is what gives our life meaning and purpose.
2 Corinthians 4:17 also gives encouragement for our hard times that, “our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever.”
Life won’t always be easy street with exceeding fun, laughter and adventure. Not even God’s own Son lived a life of complete ease. But God can be trusted. And we can rest assured that God will be our source of joy, hope and satisfaction during the journey.
Above and beyond all that happens in life, God is greater. God always satisfies and is a firm foundation. Although “this too shall pass” may be true in all forms, we have access to a relationship with God which far exceeds anything else we can experience.
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