This Too Shall Pass
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“But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” -- Isaiah 43:1-2 (NIV)
A common platitude, “This too shall pass,” is often used to comfort the afflicted. I’m sure you have heard this vague promise, which simply acknowledges the passage of time and the eventual end of a hard season. How “this” will come to pass is anyone’s guess, though. Many people have pointed out that this sentiment isn't in the Bible, and while the exact phrase isn't in Scripture, the concept of passing through and moving forward is undeniable.
Instead of patting your hand and softly saying, “This too shall pass,” Solomon says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Read Ecclesiastes 3, and notice that he doesn’t offer advice or comfort; he describes a rhythm of rising and falling, waxing and waning. The takeaway is that we have little or no control over times and changes, but we belong to the Creator who does. God sovereignly determines all of life's activities, and in His providence, He actively sustains, preserves, and governs all of creation to fulfill His good purposes. God’s loving and caring providence counteracts humanity’s abuse of free will. He provides a divine safety net as we pass through a fallen world.
In these pass-through seasons, we often overlook our Savior’s providence because we try to hurry to the destination. It is human nature to want to quickly move out of mourning and return to dancing. Who wants to settle into a season of weeping when there is joy and laughter to be had? We’d rather push through to the other side. Our patience wanes when God isn’t providing a quick solution, so we roll up our sleeves and try to fix it ourselves. We are fallible creatures who prefer to retreat rather than lean into the providence of adversity, but that is where God does His best work.
Solomon tells us, “There is a time to tear down and a time to build.” As I sit with this image, I see God’s providence in the breakings as the very building blocks of His priceless restorations. We are flawed, damaged clay in the Potter’s hands, and He shapes us as He sees best (Jeremiah 18:4). The Lord chooses what needs to be uprooted and torn down in our lives, and He also chooses what to grow and rebuild. We aren’t brought back to our former selves; we are given new life, fresh breath that will carry us through everything that is yet to come.
And what is yet to come? Indescribably good and glorious things, but also rivers we won’t want to cross, long stretches of drought, and fires we can’t extinguish. The Lord does not use "if," but "when” in Isaiah 43:2. Future tribulations are an undeniable reality, but they are coupled with the certainty of God’s divine providence and deliverance. Significant transformations in our faith, courage, and trust happen in these seasons of transition. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 that “Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” We aren’t rushing toward hope; we are enduring hopeless days by holding onto the God of all hope (Romans 15:13). As a result, we are radically changed from the inside out. We become stronger, resilient, and braver.
Oh, friend, this is such an easy sermon to preach fearlessly from the finish line, but I will never forget the goosebumps of the depths and flames I have been called to walk through. If you have passed through some fires, you know that it is never easy, never comfortable, yet always 100% worth it in the end. “I will be with you” is the only reassurance we need to step over the threshold into all the beautiful and hard things yet to come.
Questions for Reflection:
1. What is one thing you can do to help you trust God instead of trying to figure everything out?
2. Do you have a favorite passage of Scripture to meditate on? If not, pick a couple of verses relevant to your season and use them as guided prayers.
