“This too shall pass.” — Persian Proverb
Life is a collection of moments—some beautiful, some painful, and many somewhere in between. But if there’s one thing certain, it’s that nothing in life is permanent. Everything is fluid and in motion. Everything changes. The joy, the pain, the people, the seasons, the circumstances—they all come, and eventually, they all go, like the web and flow of the tidal
waves.
We spend much of our lives either clinging to the good or resisting the bad. But what if we simply acknowledged that everything is temporary? Wouldn’t that free us from unnecessary suffering?
The Joys That Don’t Last
When life is going well, we want to hold on. We freeze the moment in our mind and try to recreate it again and again. But happiness, like a sunrise, must give way to the next phase of the day. Clinging to it can lead to frustration when things shift—as they inevitably will.
So when you’re in a season of joy, savor it. Appreciate it with your whole heart. But also let it flow freely, knowing that it was never meant to stay, only to pass through.
The Storms That Will End
n our darkest moments, it’s easy to believe that pain will last forever. But look back—hasn’t every heartbreak, failure, or trial eventually softened? The storm always passes, even if it leaves a scar or changes the landscape.
When things fall apart, remind yourself: This, too, shall pass. Hold on. Breathe. Trust that time, grace, and healing will do their work.
People and Places: Lessons, Not Possessions
We often hold on tightly to people, believing they are constants in our lives. But people come and go—some stay a season, others a lifetime, and some only long enough to teach us something. They stay only for a reason.
Likewise, the places we call home may change. Jobs change. Roles evolve. Life flows forward like a river, and trying to grip the water only leaves us exhausted and empty-handed.
Learn to love deeply without possession, and to let go without resentment.
Let Go of the Illusion of Permanence
The more we try to control the inevitable changes of life, the more we suffer. But when we embrace impermanence, we begin to see its beauty. It teaches us to:
- Live more fully in the present.
- Forgive more easily.
- Love more honestly.
- Worry less about things beyond our control.
In the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3:1:
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
A Gentle Reflection
Think about something you once thought you could never live without— yet here you are. You survived. You grew. You became someone new.
So, don’t chase after permanence. Instead, focus on what matters most in the moment. Live with open hands, not clenched fists.
Closing Blessing
May you find peace in the passing of time, Comfort in change, Strength in surrender, And joy in each fleeting moment.
