By Bethany Riehl
My parents used to have this sign that made me giggle immaturely every time I saw it: This Too Shall Pass
Why did it make me giggle? Because the parents that I inherited my immaturity from had it posted in their bathroom.
Forgive me for beginning this article with such a crude joke. What can I say? It’s the beginning of the ‘ber months and I’m giddy for the school year to start and our routine to be back in place.
What I have to say isn’t crude at all.
About a year ago, sitting in a circle with our life group, we were discussing what it takes to cling to the Lord through a trial. The phrase quoted above was mentioned (and I held my immaturity in check, don’t worry).
The words “get through it” kept coming up, until finally, a man in our group spoke up and silenced us all. You know the type – he sits quietly, listening, and almost never says anything and when he does, it’s immensely profound? Yeah, it was that guy.
That night he said, “What do you mean, ‘Get through it’? Hardship is not something thrown into our path that we’re supposed to get around or bear with until we’re past it; it’s part of the course set before us. We need to run it.”
I blinked. He was absolutely right.
Recently I read an update for a family we have been praying for in a very hard situation. They stated that they don’t want to “hit the eject button” on this trial but want to “let steadfastness have its full effect.” (James 1:4)
Isn’t that just exactly what our prayer should be in difficulty of all kinds? That we would be shaped and purified and come through our trials more like Christ?
Have you ever heard the story of a woman going to a silversmith to better understand Malachi 3:3? (“He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver…”) She asked him if he really had to sit there and watch the silver in the fire. He answered yes, he did. It had to be in the flames long enough to be purified, but not so long that it was destroyed. When she asked how he knows when it’s purified, he answered, “When I can see my face reflected in it.”
God uses this imagery often in Scripture. He even says, “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3)
We were made to reflect Him. To glorify Him. For our sake He does it this way sometimes – through difficulty. To be like Christ is the highest aim for fullness of joy, contentment, and peace. But He does not take His eyes off of us. He is not out to destroy us, only purify.
Christian, we should have more hope, joy, and assurance than anyone on earth. Jesus promised us that in this life we will have hardship – more so if we belong to Him. After all, our Savior endured immense suffering, beyond all of our imagining, on the cross. But He also promised those who belong to Him eternal life.
“For this light, momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
This doesn’t mean that we don’t feel the weight and pain of suffering. Read the psalms – David is very open about his pain and fear and weariness. But again and again he reminds himself of God’s character. He abounds in grace, mercy, patience, and love. Psalm 145:9 declares, “The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.”
When Christians suffer, we can remember one very precious thing: Jesus bore our suffering on the cross as well as our sins. One pastor compared it to a cupbearer drinking wine before the king. Our good and gracious Savior drank the cup of our suffering before it ever came to us.
He knows our every burden, fear, and hope. (“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…” Isaiah 53:4a)
And nothing – not a single molecule on this earth or in the heavens – is outside of His sovereign control and will. And what He wills is for our good and His glory.
When we pray to be more like Christ, God is gracious to answer. And that will include suffering as He Himself suffered. But just as He is now seated at the right hand of God, we also will one day be with Him, in a place where there is no more suffering. Our risen King has already accomplished this great victory and someday soon, we will enjoy it in His kingdom with Him.
For now, there is a course set before us. It’s different for everyone and sometimes you’ll hit a steep hill and really have to grit your teeth and dig in to get to the top. And sometimes at the top, there’s another hill to climb.
Other times you’ll walk through flat, pleasant trails that offer rest and reprieve.
One day we’ll fall at His feet and catch our breath at last, having finished our race.
Until then, know this – He’s with you always (Matthew 28:20), He’s endured your suffering already, bearing the full brunt of if before it ever reaches you, and He will not leave or forsake you.
We might not know why what is happening is so, but we know Who He is. And we can rest in His perfect character.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)
Bethany Riehl lives in the Treasure Valley with her husband, kids, and a dog. She writes articles and fictional novels when she can, and her one desire is to point others to the love and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
