This Too Shall Pass?

There’s a difference between the person who has never had a kidney stone and the person who has. When you haven’t had a kidney stone, you say something like this: “Wow, that sounds bad! I hear those are painful!” The person who has had a kidney stone is more specific about their reality: “I thought I was going to die. The pain was mind-blowing.”

This last week, I experienced a kidney stone while swimming. I thought I pulled a muscle and after massaging the muscle, it seemed better. Things went downhill in the next few hours. I was alone at home and all at once, overcome by so much pain, I could hardly breathe. The pain was excruciating. I called a friend when I couldn’t get my husband. Thankful for both, I was able to get to urgent care and subsequently the hospital emergency room. After a long day there, I got released, armed with meds to sustain me.

Who doesn’t want out of their pain? All I could think of was “Help me with my pain! I can’t take it!” It’s only normal to want to be well. We want to be over what is bothering us. That’s only normal. There’s a great quote on Pinterest: “This too shall pass. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass.” I guess it sounds like a good saying to post in your office, but I need a bit more encouragement than that. It sounds like massive pain is involved in that quote.

The phrase “this too shall pass” isn’t directly found in the Bible. However, this verse in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 seems appropriate for dealing with any time of pain, burden, or suffering we carry: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So, we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

For the believer in Christ, this verse says that temporary hardships will eventually pass and be replaced by something greater; essentially conveying the idea that “this too shall pass.” When we look at what is seen, all we see is the light troubles, even though it doesn’t seem very light! But when we look at the things not seen, then we can see and appreciate an eternal glory.

In our short time of distress and pain, the result will be God’s richest blessing upon us. Being human, we just want out of our pain as soon as possible. What if God is allowing the pain for a purpose? Not to just get through it, but to gain more of God in it?

Will all things pass? Things do not always get better. The Bible never suggests that life will get better if you wait things out. It says that “the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 had hope. He knew that every day he was being made more like Christ. He knew he had to see his situation considering eternity. He looked at what he couldn’t see. We would be wise to do the same.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.