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This too shall pass...

November 17, 2011

Three weeks ago when I dropped my oldest off at school I heard that tell tale noise of impending disaster. I like to call it the "pre-school kennel cough." Those of you with young kids know what I mean. You know as soon as one kid in the class gets it, just about everyone will and you know that merely venturing into the classroom is form of Russian Roulette.

Fast forward 3 weeks later and I am on my third round of the "creeping crud". So, if you're wondering why there hasn't been a blog post (or return phone call or return email) in the last few weeks, mystery solved. By God's grace we're on the back end of it, everybody is heading back to healthy and God sustained us because more then one kid in the class had to go in for breathing treatments, etc and by His grace, we were spared all of that.

But, in the midst of round 2, I learned something that I thought might be applicable to more then just me. Ron called me and asked "so, how are you doing?" My answer was "This too shall pass." Kind of a tongue in cheek attempt at being upbeat despite the fact that I was really feeling crummy. And as I thought about, that really was my comfort, God was in control and I had every expectation that in a few days or so I would feel better. Despite my low state, it would most likely pass, none withstanding the fact that my I felt horrible.

But as I pondered that statement I realized it was more of a universal truth then a tongue in cheek truism. Neither the best of this life nor the worst of this life is permanent, because this life itself is transitory. The only problem is that in the "throes" of it, circumstances seem pretty darn permanent. Especially if they have the likelihood of lasting more then a few days or happen to hit in the midst of particularly bad time. But we'd do well to remember that, as long as we have breath, neither success nor failure is permanent. In fact Scripture tells us:

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Psalm 39:5 (NKJV)

Surely men of low degree are a vapor, men of high degree are a lie; if they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor. Psalm 62:9 (NKJV)

Too often it seems we make our present circumstances or worse yet how we "feel" at the moment, the governing factor in our outlook and even in our feelings toward God. A friend of mine once repeated a nugget of gold that he'd received from a pastor: "Make sure you give your feelings time to catch up to the facts." It's powerful statement that I have quoted many times since.

When that big business deal closes, when that new car is parked in the drive way, when the baby is born, when the realtor hands you the keys; we feel on top of the world. All is right in the universe at this moment. It's not. It just feels that way. And this too shall pass.

When the diagnosis comes, when the pink slip arrives, when they're tacking the foreclosure notice to the door, when the money in the outgoing column is more then the money in the incoming column, when the kids are sick, when you have a fever of 102 and your sinuses feel like flame throwers and its been two weeks, when the judges slams down the gavel ending the marriage you've been fighting for; everything feels out of whack and somewhat hopeless. It's not. It just feels that way. And this too shall pass.

As well, when we have the right perspective on events we begin to see too that even in "disaster" God's hand of favor is evident. For example during this illness, of our 7 member family, the 2 most vulnerable members of the family didn't even get the sniffles. Despite the fact that the whole house sounded like a TB ward. Praise God!

In the big things and in the little things, it is good for us to remember our place. First, we are His. Second we are not in control, He is. Third, this life and its circumstances, painful or joyful though they might feel, are not permanent.

For those of us struggling whether its financial, or illness or seeming failure right now, I love this verse, offered to the church at Smyrna:

Fear nothing in the things you're about to suffer-but stay on guard! Fear nothing...It won't last forever. Rev 2:10 (MSG)

For those of us on the top of the world right now in our finances or business or ministry this is the verse to keep in mind:

But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. James 1:9-11 (NIV84)

And why? Because as James reminds us:

[W]hereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)

So? Our response? Paul tells us:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 (NIV84)

Remembering that:

Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. 1 Peter 2:11.

'til next time... God bless!

Art: Weight of the World by Ron DiCianni

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