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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

March 2, 2012

This, too, shall pass away

Filed under Sabbath Thoughts

Life has its peaks and valleys. When we go through a valley of disappointment, remember that time is a great healer.

In a speech before the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society in 1859, Abraham Lincoln commented: "It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate at all times and situations. They presented him with the words, 'And this, too, shall pass away.' How much it expresses. How chastening in the hour of pride. How consoling in the depths of affliction."

Abraham Lincoln knew what the Eastern monarch was talking about. In his lifetime he lost several political elections, experienced business failure and suffered the loss of two sons before they became adults.

As bleak as life can seem at times, we should never forget that this, too, shall pass away. The joy of life can return. With the help of God, with the understanding of His great purpose for life, with the hope of the future, we can find the strength to get through the valley.

Especially we hold tightly to the promise of that wonderful day when the time when all suffering will pass away forever (Revelation 21:4).

As Christians, our life’s journey will not end in a valley. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:3-6).

Solomon wrote, "to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: . . . a time to die; . . . and a time to heal; . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4).

If we are in one of life’s valleys, remember that this, too, shall pass away. A time to sing, a time to laugh and a time to dance will return.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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