You are feeling badly – ‘And this, too, shall pass away’. Never fear – Abraham Lincoln
This was the upbeat message from Abraham Lincoln after loosing a grueling senate election to Stephen Douglas. Lincoln had canvassed the state of Illinois giving about 130 elaborate speeches in 100 days. Yet he lost the election. To add injury to insult, he was hit with a large bill from his party that he had to pay, even though he had little money at the time. Instead of being irritable, crawling into his shell in recluse, or being grumpy; he agreed to pay the bill in full, overtime. He further encouraged his party, that just billed him, that this too shall pass.
In many instances, the Bible uses the phrase, “And it came to pass”, meaning that something happened, but whatever happened also came and went. Good comes and goes, Bad comes and goes. All things come and go. This principle, if accepted will help you keep things in perspective. It is a double edged sword in that while unwanted circumstance will pass, desirable circumstances will also pass.
Don’t get too carried away by the seeming direness of your current situation. Don’t blow this circumstances out of proportion that you lose sight of the big picture, lose sight of the future, lose sight of perspective. Do you love God? Are you called according to His purpose? If yes, then all things are working together for your good. Abraham Lincoln lost that senate race but didn’t allow himself get ruined by the circumstance surrounding the loss. He may have been a lifetime senator had it not been for that loss. Lincoln rose above it and instead became one of the best presidents in history.
…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. – Psalm 30:5
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 in all times and situations. They presented him 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
