This too shall pass

{This is a repost of an earlier article. The “School-Age Parent” series will resume shortly. Enjoy!}

Do you ever miss out on enjoying good things in life because you’re pretty wrapped up in the bad things that come along? The title of this article – “This, too, shall pass” – usually puts us in mind of the encouragement that the bad stuff won’t last too long so don’t despair. It’s true, too, of the good things. Think of some specifics.
 
My wife, Chrissy, and I have this year, among our four children, three graduations and a wedding. Those are very good things which will come and go whether we’re paying attention and joyously celebrating or not.
 
But I have things in my life that I’m hoping will pass away as quickly as possible: anxieties about money, workload challenges, relational stuff that I want to see get better, and actually a whole lot more. I want things different, and won’t mind it if God hurries up and makes it so.
 
I can find myself thinking I’ll really enjoy the milestones and the moments when I get a few of the noisy, cluttering, troublesome things out of the way. But does it really work that way?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:34 not to worry about tomorrow for each day has enough trouble of its own. His is not a pessimistic outlook, but an encouragement to trust in the Lord’s care and provision. Yet I can too often be found worrying about tomorrow. I’m thinking if God would just get this fixed, then I could properly enjoy the large and small good things of life.
 
Even as He cares for me, though, trouble is not going away. I won’t ‘get things under control’ so I can then appreciate the blessings and wonders of life. As those incredible gifts of grace come into my life, they will also pass away. God won’t have exhausted His grace in my life, but I will have missed out.
 
In three months’ time, my youngest son will have graduated from high school, my oldest daughter will have graduated from college, my oldest son will have graduated from graduate school, and my oldest son will be married.
 
I’ll be there, and I’ll be celebrating, but how much will I be borrowing tomorrow’s trouble and grousing about the trouble that still gets in my way today? How much joy and peace will the troubles rob which the Lord intends for my blessing?
 
Can you relate? Pray for me. I’ll pray for you. Our God is faithful, and full of good, good gifts – times, people, growth and grace to celebrate and praise Him for. May that be where our hearts mostly live.