This too shall pass bible verse

Summary

This too shall pass bible verse

This too shall pass bible verse

The Seasons of Life: 60 Bible Verses on “This Too Shall Pass”

 

Whether you are on a mountaintop or in a valley, the Bible teaches that our current circumstances are subject to change. Only the Word of God remains forever. Here are the scriptures that anchor us in the truth that trouble does not last always.

I. The Temporary Nature of Suffering

 

Verses affirming that trials have an expiration date.

1. 2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

2. 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

3. Psalm 30:5 – “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

4. 1 Peter 1:6 – “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”

5. 1 Peter 5:10 – “And the God of all grace… after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

6. Romans 8:18 – “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

7. Psalm 34:19 – “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.”

8. Proverbs 23:18 – “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

9. Isaiah 54:7 – “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.”

10. Isaiah 54:8 – “In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you.”

11. Psalm 57:1 – “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”

12. Isaiah 26:20 – “Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by.”

13. John 16:33 – “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

14. Revelation 2:10 – “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer… you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

15. Job 11:16 – “You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.”

II. Seasons and Times

 

Wisdom literature on the changing cycles of life.

16. Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

17. Ecclesiastes 3:4 – “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

18. Daniel 2:21 – “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises others up.”

19. Psalm 90:10 – “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures… for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”

20. Psalm 39:5 – “You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.”

21. James 4:14 – “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

22. 1 Chronicles 29:15 – “We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”

23. Job 8:9 – “For we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.”

24. Psalm 103:15-16 – “The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone.”

25. Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”

III. The End of Sorrow

 

Prophecies about the final passing of all pain.

26. Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

27. Isaiah 35:10 – “Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

28. Isaiah 65:17 – “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.”

29. Isaiah 25:8 – “He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces.”

30. 1 Corinthians 7:31 – “For this world in its present form is passing away.”

31. 1 John 2:17 – “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

32. 2 Peter 3:13 – “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

33. Romans 13:12 – “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.”

34. Hebrews 13:14 – “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”

35. Matthew 24:35 – “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

IV. Endurance Through the Valley

 

Verses about walking through temporary darkness.

36. Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

37. Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

38. Psalm 27:13 – “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.”

39. Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed… They are new every morning.”

40. Psalm 126:5 – “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.”

41. Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

42. Habakkuk 2:3 – “For the revelation awaits an appointed time… Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

43. Psalm 40:1 – “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.”

44. Psalm 102:26 – “They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment… but you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

45. Hebrews 12:2 – “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame.”

V. God’s Deliverance in Time

 

Promises that the difficult situation will change.

46. Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.”

47. Jeremiah 29:11 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD… ‘plans to give you hope and a future.'”

48. Psalm 37:10 – “A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.”

49. Proverbs 24:16 – “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.”

50. Micah 7:8 – “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”

51. Job 23:10 – “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

52. 1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

53. Psalm 138:8 – “The LORD will vindicate me; your love, LORD, endures forever.”

54. Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

55. Psalm 121:8 – “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

56. Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”

57. Psalm 71:20 – “Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again.”

58. Psalm 31:15 – “My times are in your hands.”

59. Ecclesiastes 7:14 – “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.”

60. Hebrews 10:36 – “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

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25 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About “This Too Shall Pass”

 

Q1: Is the exact phrase “This too shall pass” in the Bible? A: No. The exact phrase is not in Scripture. It is believed to be of Persian origin (Sufi poets). However, the concept is thoroughly biblical (see 2 Corinthians 4:17).

Q2: What is the closest Bible verse to “This too shall pass”? A: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 is the closest theological match: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory… what is seen is temporary.”

Q3: Where did the saying “This too shall pass” come from? A: It is often attributed to King Solomon in folklore, but historically it traces back to Persian poets like Rumi or Attar, and was popularized in the West by Abraham Lincoln in a speech.

Q4: Does the Bible say trouble won’t last always? A: Yes. Psalm 30:5 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

Q5: How can I find comfort in “This too shall pass” as a Christian? A: By remembering that since your trouble is temporary, it cannot defeat God’s eternal plan for you. Romans 8:18 says present suffering is not worth comparing to future glory.

Q6: What does Ecclesiastes 3 teach about this concept? A: It teaches that life is made of seasons. “A time to weep and a time to laugh.” No season, good or bad, lasts forever on earth.

Q7: Is it okay to use this quote even if it’s not in the Bible? A: Yes, as long as you understand the biblical truth behind it. It aligns with the truth that this world is fading and God is eternal.

Q8: What verse helps when I feel like my pain will never end? A: 1 Peter 5:10: “And the God of all grace… after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you.”

Q9: Does “This too shall pass” apply to good times too? A: Yes. The Bible warns us not to store up treasures on earth because they are temporary (Matthew 6:19). We should hold blessings loosely and the Creator tightly.

Q10: What is the “eternal perspective”? A: It is viewing current events through the lens of eternity (2 Corinthians 4:18), recognizing that earthly struggles are a “breath” compared to eternity with God.

Q11: How does God use temporary struggles? A: He uses them to refine our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7), just as gold is refined by fire, until it is pure.

Q12: What does “The grass withers and the flowers fall” mean? A: Found in Isaiah 40:8, it contrasts the fragility and temporary nature of human life and problems with the permanence of God’s Word.

Q13: Why does Paul call his suffering “light and momentary”? A: Paul suffered greatly (beatings, shipwreck), but he called it “light” in comparison to the “weight of glory” awaiting him. It was a comparison of value, not a dismissal of pain.

Q14: Is there a promise that the world will pass away? A: Yes, 1 John 2:17 states, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Q15: How do I endure until the trouble passes? A: Through patience and prayer. Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Q16: What does “joy comes in the morning” imply? A: It implies that darkness has an expiration date. God has appointed a time for the sun to rise on your situation.

Q17: Can I pray “Lord, let this pass”? A: Yes. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “Let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). It is biblical to ask for relief while submitting to God’s will.

Q18: What is the “new heaven and new earth”? A: It is the ultimate fulfillment of “this too shall pass.” The old order of pain and death will disappear completely (Revelation 21:4).

Q19: Does God change like our circumstances? A: No. James 1:17 says God “does not change like shifting shadows.” He is the only constant in a changing world.

Q20: How do I help a friend who needs to hear this? A: Share Isaiah 43:2. Remind them that God promises to be with them while they pass through the waters. The key word is “through.”

Q21: What does “My times are in your hands” mean? A: From Psalm 31:15, it means God controls the duration of our trials. They will not last one second longer than He allows.

Q22: Is hope related to this concept? A: Yes. Proverbs 23:18 says, “There is surely a future hope.” Believing that trouble will pass is the definition of hope.

Q23: Why is patience a fruit of the Spirit? A: Because we need supernatural help to wait for the “passing.” Patience (Galatians 5:22) is the ability to endure the temporary wait with a good attitude.

Q24: What does “He changes times and seasons” mean? A: From Daniel 2:21, it affirms God’s sovereignty over history. No political regime or personal winter lasts forever; God turns the wheel of history.

Q25: What is the ultimate “This too shall pass”? A: Death itself. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Even death is temporary for the believer.