And This Too Shall Pass…
- Wendy Norris
- Apr 14, 2021
- 5 min read
And this too shall pass… the infamous phrase that is hastily uttered to an individual experiencing a trial or tribulation of some sort. I am all for being hopeful, but sometimes this sentiment feels so trite.
And this too shall pass.
But, what if it doesn’t?
I can think of so many individuals that I have ministered to over the years that have carried heavy burdens of grief, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress…and the list goes on. There is great hope that those individuals will one day find relief through counseling, or medication, surgery, or meditation, or prayer, or through the passage of time. But, sometimes, for some people, there is very little relief from the excruciating pain they are enduring. They grit through the heartache or the affliction until the day that they die.
And this too did not pass.
Where did this phrase come from? Like other well-loved, often-used quotes, many believe this is a scripture found in the Bible. Believe it or not, it isn’t. This phrase has possible roots in Jewish and Persian folklore, but where it became popularized was in a speech that President Lincoln gave to a large gathering of entrepreneurs and farmers at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1859.
It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: “And this, too, shall pass away.” How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! — how consoling in the depths of affliction! “And this, too, shall pass away.” And yet let us hope it is not quite true. Let us hope, rather, that by the best cultivation of the physical world, beneath and around us; and the intellectual and moral world within us, we shall secure an individual, social, and political prosperity and happiness, whose course shall be onward and upward, and which, while the earth endures, shall not pass away. President Abraham lincoln
While we know that God created the seasons, that it appears history does repeat itself, and the tides ebb and flow, we also know that this world is blanketed in sin. The sinful nature of humans causes poor choices, hateful words, the purposeful infliction of injury or death, lies, and deceit. None of us are untouched by the web of hurt that sin casts down upon us. The resulting pain of such hurt and heartache can last a lifetime. For many, the resulting injury of sin can inflict physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pain that neither physicians nor pharmaceuticals can heal.
This too will not pass.
That is, until the other side of this life. When we are transformed into our heavenly bodies, only then will we be relieved of the agony that has been imprinted on us by the afflictions of this world. But, what shall we do in the meantime? How do we lessen the heartache? Here are some suggestions:
“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Colossians 3:16
First of all, don’t be too quick to use slick quotes, phrases, or even scriptures to try and relieve someone else’s pain. It rarely works. More often than not, it induces more shame or sadness. Quotes are quick and easy, healing and recovery is not. If you plan on using some sort of written context, plan on spending a lot of time with that individual unpacking those words and how it can be applied to their specific need. Then, plan on staying longer to help them put those words into action.
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
Find a spiritual companion or director. Sometimes this is a pastor or a chaplain. Many times it’s a layperson who has been educated in spiritual practices that comes alongside of a person and walks the journey of spiritual questioning and contemplation. These relationships are rich in conversation and yet deep in moments of silence. The companion or director guides a person through their questions, which are often left unanswered but aren’t held onto as tightly as they once were. Discussions on life, faith, meaning, and psychospiritual issues weave together a beautiful and deeply fulfilling relationship between an individual and God.
“You should know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit who is in you. You have received the Holy Spirit from God. So you do not belong to yourselves, because you were bought by God for a price. So honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Consistently practice holistic self-care. This means that you must care for your physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual self. You can’t expect to run at optimal performance when you meditate, go to church, but yet eat unhealthy food. Your body will start to degrade quickly when it isn’t nourished with good foods and physical activity. When any of these areas are neglected, the other areas will suffer.
Foster flexibility in your daily life. When we carry the heavy burdens of grief, physical pain, or mental health difficulties it can be easy to slip into a rigid and structured routine. This happens because it feels as if we have lost control of some aspect of our life and this is the reason we are suffering. By putting rigid routines in place, we think we are gaining some control back over our situation. This can’t be further from the truth. While some sense of routine keeps us from being scattered, being inflexible can cause further hardship when we are struggling. Life will never be linear. Almost daily our routines will need to be adjusted to meet the demands of either our day or the handling of the painful circumstance that we are dealing with. Being flexible will actually help an individual build resilience.
Find community. Find people with similar circumstances but also find people that come from different walks of life. Find people that will empathize with your situation but are also not afraid to challenge you and push you to become better. In community is where we will find the level of healing that we can achieve in this lifetime and on this side of heaven. Positive, nurturing, and strong relationships will provide a soothing balm to a festering spiritual or emotional wound.
Maybe this situation that you or a loved one has found yourself in will not pass, but there are ways to bear it with grace, dignity, peace, and comfort. It is my hope that some of the ideas I have shared will be a guide to you in finding the support and care you need. If I can ever help, please reach out and send me an email at wendy@wendycnorris.com
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