Is “This Too Will Pass” a Good Attitude? 
by Kathy Collard Miller
“Things are tough but that’s OK; I’ll just wait it out and it’ll get better.”
Have you ever considered your trials and found comfort through thinking, “This too will pass”? That phrase sounds benign enough but I’m wondering if it leaves out God in some way. Because, at least for me, it supports in my heart an attitude of, “I’ll just grin and bear it until this trial goes away.” It doesn’t support, “God, even if I have to persevere through this trial for a long time, I’m going to call upon you and not depend upon my own inadequate power.” Would you like to embrace the second attitude? Here’s how:
1. Recognize how “Grin and Bear It” leaves out God.
I became aware of how I was leaving out God because of that attitude some time ago. As I struggled to trust God for his provision of joy and contentment in the midst of being my mother-in-law’s caregiver, I thought, “This too will pass.” And then on the heels of that thought came, “If I just knew how much longer Audrey was going to live, I could be more patient and kind.” I was thinking I could be more patient because I would be gritting my teeth, just waiting for the trial to end. But that’s not depending upon God.
2. Choose active joy not passivity.
“This too will pass” is very passive. It’s allowing circumstances to dictate our responses rather than looking to God. James 1:2-4 give us the key to active joy: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trial, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (NASB).
That verse contains active and “being aware” words, not closing our eyes to God’s help. Being active is when we pay attention to the purposes of difficulties. Problems become God’s vehicle to growth. That can’t happen if we’re closing our eyes to what God wants to do.
3. Be aware moment by moment.
In the midst of caring for my mother-in-law, I examined that phrase, “This too will pass,” more deeply. I saw that I wasn’t living in real time but in the future when things were guaranteed to get better. But there’s no guarantee life will get better. Life doesn’t become perfect until we enter heaven. Each moment and day of our lives is an opportunity to see God’s love strengthen us.
No wonder God doesn’t tell us the future. If we knew a trial was going to last a long time, we’d give up. If we knew a trial was going to be short-lived, we would grin and bear it. We’re supposed to relax in God’s power moment by moment depending upon Him, allowing him to provide all we need. And then He’ll receive the glory, not us!
These three truths began to transform my thinking. No longer was I depending upon my limited knowledge and my strategy of passivity, but I was seeking God more passionately and seeing his hand of provision. I became more patient with my mother-in-law and saw how God was doing a work in me.
When my mom-in-law left for heaven, I knew I hadn’t been perfect but I knew God had transformed my life now and it wasn’t in “the sweet by and by.”
That was affirmed when a short time later I became the main caregiver for my own mother. God took what He’d taught me and applied it to this new challenge. God never wastes anything but we won’t see that if we’re just grinning and bearing it.
Interesting perspectives Ms. Kathy. I agree with “grin and bear it” because I think of that phrase in terms of “… just put on a happy face.” This makes me think of the other one “fake it till you make it.” I have a different perspective on “this too shall pass”, but that doesn’t mean your truism in your life is incorrect. For me, I view this phrase as one of hope. My hope is that, in Christ, I know how this story ends. And while I may be going through some trial or other difficulty in this life, this is but a temporary detour. I say that because I remember the words of James 4:14 in that this life is but a vapor. I KNOW that whatever is happening today is going to come to pass. Be that tomorrow, ten years from now, or when Christ calls His children home. This too shall pass. 🙂 Thanks for allowing me to view a different perspective on this life. God’s blessings ma’am.
J.D., I respect your perspective and so appreciate you sharing with me and my readers. No doubt there are others feeling the same and I can understand that. Your ideas are indeed based in Scripture. Thank you! And thank you for faithfully sharing on my blog. I always appreciate your insightful support.
Awesome insight, Kathy. When people tell me, “This, too, shall pass” I usually reply that “God is helping me through this.” Or I tell them it’s a moment-by-moment journey and God is giving me strength. I also try to let them know that it’s a learning experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Of course, I’m reminding myself of these things when I share with others my real feelings, failings and hope:-)
Deb, thank you for sharing those wonderful insights as you travel this road of widowhood. I’m confident the Lord will use you mightily in what you’re learning. Keep sharing, please, with me and my readers. We are gaining wisdom from you.