“This too shall pass”, employed in a speech by Abraham Lincoln before he was president, has often been quoted by those going through times of difficulty. Another quote, taken from a song, that has encouraged folks is, “What a difference a day makes”. Both of these are popular for good reason. None of us know what a day holds–each one is a mystery, and change will come.
For some of you this day got off to a good start, but before the sun sets it will bring grief. For others the day started all wrong, but unseen blessings are just around the corner. Keeping these thoughts in mind is helpful because we tend to make bad choices and do foolish things when we are in a crisis. Some turn a day of difficulty into a lifetime of grief and regret. They sow a sinful seed that produces a harvest of sorrow, shame, and suffering. It often happens something like this:
We get into an unpleasant situation and there appears to be no way out, not a glimmer of hope. It seems that nothing will ever change for the better. You feel trapped without a way to escape. Sometimes you don’t even know how to pray. I’ve been there done that! There has been times when all I could say was “Help!”, and amazingly by the next morning the whole world seemed different–better. As much as I didn’t deserve it or even expect it, help came. It was as if God had worked a miracle. Those experiences cause me to focus all the more on those two sayings.
Regardless of how bad things appear, a day can make a big difference. Regardless of how bad things are, “This too shall pass”. I know that’s true because, for the Christian the best is always yet to come! That’s why I am so blessed when I hear someone sing, “Hold on my child, joy comes in the morning!”. Indeed it will.
Some glorious day Jesus will come or we will go. Our journey here will be over and we will be changed into the likeness of the One who changes not! It’s just a matter of time.
