Is “This Too Shall Pass” a Bible Verse? Biblical Meaning, Similar Scriptures, and Hope Through Suffering (2026)

Many people search for the phrase “This Too Shall Pass” during difficult seasons, hoping to find comfort and encouragement from God’s Word. Although this exact phrase does not appear as a Bible verse, its message reflects a powerful biblical truth: suffering, trials, and hardships are temporary, while God’s faithfulness and promises remain forever.

Throughout Scripture, we find many verses that remind us to trust God during times of pain, uncertainty, and waiting. The Bible teaches that challenges can strengthen our faith, develop perseverance, and draw us closer to Christ. From the struggles of Job to the hope found in Jesus’ resurrection, God shows that difficult seasons do not have the final word.

In this article, we will explore the biblical meaning behind “This Too Shall Pass,” discover similar Scriptures, understand what the Bible says about suffering, and learn how God provides hope, peace, and strength through every season of life.

Bible Origins of “This Too Shall Pass”

The exact phrase “this too shall pass” does not appear in the Bible, although many people assume it does. Its roots trace back to Persian and Middle Eastern folk wisdom, later retold in English in the 1800s.

 The Bible does, however, teach the same truth: hardship and joy are both temporary, while God remains constant. Verses like Psalm 30:5 and Ecclesiastes 3:1 carry the heart of the saying.

• The phrase is not found in the KJV, NIV, ESV, or any major translation.
• It likely began as a Persian Sufi tale about a king and a wise ring.
• The story was later linked to King Solomon, which is why people connect it to Scripture.
• Abraham Lincoln popularized it in a famous 1859 speech.
• Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, which explores the same theme of passing seasons.
• Psalm 30:5 promises that sorrow lasts for a night while joy comes with morning.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 says there is a time and season for everything under heaven.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 calls our troubles “light” and “for a moment” compared to eternal glory.
• Biblical comfort points to God’s unchanging nature, not just to time passing.
• Knowing the true origin helps us use the phrase honestly while leaning on real Scripture.

We Are Being Renewed Day by Day

Paul writes that although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is renewed every day (2 Corinthians 4:16). 

This means pain does not have the final word over the believer’s spirit. God gives fresh strength for each new morning. Even when circumstances feel heavy, renewal is quietly happening within.

• Renewal is a daily gift, not a one-time event.
• The “outer man” may weaken, but the inner life grows stronger in Christ.
• Lamentations 3:22-23 says God’s mercies are new every morning.
• Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who wait on the Lord renew their strength.
• Romans 12:2 links renewal with a transformed mind.
• Bad seasons cannot drain what God refills daily.
• Prayer and Scripture reading are simple ways to receive daily renewal.
• Small steps of faith each day add up to lasting spiritual growth.
• Renewal does not always change the problem, but it changes how we carry it.
• Each sunrise is a reminder that God is not finished with you.

We Have Victory and Peace Through Christ

Jesus told His disciples that in the world they would have trouble, but they should take heart because He has overcome the world (John 16:33). 

Our victory is not based on avoiding hardship but on who stands with us in it. Christ also gives a peace that guards our hearts when life feels uncertain. This is why trials are temporary for those who trust Him.

• John 16:33 pairs honest warning about trouble with a promise of peace.
• 1 Corinthians 15:57 thanks God for giving us victory through Jesus Christ.
• Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
• Philippians 4:7 describes a peace that surpasses understanding.
• John 14:27 says Jesus gives a peace the world cannot give.
• Victory in Christ is certain even when the battle feels long.
• Peace is a gift to receive, not something we have to manufacture.
• Colossians 3:15 invites the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts.
• Remembering the cross and resurrection puts present struggles in perspective.
• Peace grows when we bring worries to God in prayer and thanksgiving.

We Are Comforted Through Christ and Able to Comfort Others

God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we received (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

 Our painful seasons are never wasted in His hands. What we learn in the valley becomes a gift for someone else walking through theirs. Comfort flows from Christ to us, and then through us.

• 2 Corinthians 1:3 calls God the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”
• Comfort from God is meant to be shared, not stored up.
• Your story of survival can become someone else’s source of hope.
• Matthew 5:4 says those who mourn will be comforted.
• Psalm 23:4 reminds us that God’s presence comforts us in the darkest valley.
• Listening quietly is often the most powerful way to comfort someone.
• Romans 12:15 encourages us to weep with those who weep.
• Shared suffering builds stronger, more compassionate communities.
• Healing is deeper when we pass on what God taught us.
• Being comforted by Christ makes us more gentle and understanding toward others.

We Learn Greater Perseverance, Strength, and Endurance Through Suffering

Scripture teaches that trials are not pointless; they build endurance, and endurance builds character and hope (Romans 5:3-4).

 James adds that testing of faith produces steadfastness. Like a muscle that grows under resistance, faith grows stronger under pressure. The struggle that feels endless is shaping a deeper, more mature believer.

• Romans 5:3-4 links suffering to perseverance, character, and hope.
• James 1:2-4 says testing of faith produces steadfastness.
• Endurance means staying faithful, not just surviving.
• 1 Peter 5:10 promises God will restore and strengthen us after a little while of suffering.
• Hard seasons teach dependence on God instead of our own strength.
• Character built in trials lasts longer than comfort built in ease.
• Galatians 6:9 encourages us not to grow weary in doing good.
• Hebrews 12:1 calls us to run with endurance the race set before us.
• Every difficulty you have survived is evidence that God carried you.
• Perseverance turns pain into wisdom you can use for the rest of your life.

This Too Shall Pass Similar Bible Verse

Although the exact words are not in Scripture, several verses carry the same message. They remind us that sorrow, fear, and hardship are seasons, not permanent homes. These verses are often used as Biblical alternatives when someone wants a faith 

based version of the saying. Each one points to God’s faithfulness as the reason hope is possible.

• Psalm 30:5: weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17: our light and momentary troubles are achieving eternal glory.
• Romans 8:18: present sufferings are not worth comparing to the coming glory.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1: there is a season for everything under heaven.
• Isaiah 43:2: God promises to be with us when we pass through waters and fire.
• Psalm 126:5: those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
• John 16:20: Jesus said your grief will turn to joy.
• Lamentations 3:22-23: God’s mercies are new every morning.
• Psalm 34:19: the righteous face many troubles, but the Lord delivers them from them all.
• 1 Peter 5:10: after you have suffered a little while, God Himself will restore you.

This Too Shall Pass Bible Verse Old Testament

When people search for a “this too shall pass Bible verse Old Testament,” the closest answers are found in the Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations. These books speak honestly about grief while pointing to God’s steady mercy. No Old Testament verse uses the exact phrase, but many describe the same truth of seasons changing. Psalm 30:5 is the most commonly shared verse for this theme.

• Psalm 30:5 says joy comes in the morning after a night of weeping.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 lists seasons of weeping, laughing, mourning, and dancing.
• Lamentations 3:22-23 says the Lord’s mercies never come to an end.
• Psalm 126:5-6 promises joyful harvest after tears.
• Isaiah 41:10 tells us not to fear because God is with us.
• Psalm 23:4 speaks of walking through the valley without fear.
• Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us God will never leave nor forsake us.
• Isaiah 40:8 contrasts fading grass with the word of God that stands forever.
• Psalm 90:14 asks God to satisfy us in the morning with His love.
• Job 42:12 shows God blessing the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.

This Too Shall Pass Bible Verse Meaning

The meaning behind the saying is that every hardship, and every season of ease, is temporary. In a biblical sense, it invites us to trust God through changing circumstances instead of placing hope in them. 

It is not meant to dismiss pain but to remind us that pain is not permanent. Faith adds something the simple proverb lacks: we do not wait alone, because God walks with us.

• It teaches that no struggle, however heavy, lasts forever.
• It also warns that good times are temporary, so we should stay humble.
• Biblical hope is rooted in God, not in changing situations.
• It encourages patience instead of panic during difficulty.
• Ecclesiastes 3 frames life as a series of God-ordained seasons.
• It does not deny grief; it gives grief an end point.
• It reminds believers that eternal joy outweighs temporary sorrow.
• The saying works best when paired with promises like Psalm 30:5.
• It gives courage to keep going when quitting feels easier.
• Its deepest meaning is that God remains the same while everything else changes.

This Too Shall Pass Proverb

As a proverb, “this too shall pass” is an ancient piece of wisdom about impermanence. A well-known tale tells of a king who asked wise men for words that would be true in both joy and sorrow. 

The answer became a saying used across cultures and faiths. Christians value it as a reminder of life’s seasons, while grounding their hope in Scripture rather than in the proverb itself.

• It is a folk proverb, not a Bible verse.
• The oldest known forms come from Persian and Middle Eastern storytelling.
• A popular legend attaches it to King Solomon and a ring.
• Abraham Lincoln used it in an 1859 address, bringing it to wide American attention.
• It works as comfort in grief and as a warning in times of pride.
• Similar sayings exist in many languages and cultures.
• The proverb teaches change, while the Bible teaches who holds us through change.
• Proverbs 17:22 reminds us that a cheerful heart is good medicine.
• Using it alongside Scripture gives it a stronger foundation.
• Understanding its history helps readers share it accurately.

Did Jesus Say This Too Shall Pass?

No, Jesus never said “this too shall pass” in the Gospels. He did, however, speak many words that offer the same hope.

He promised peace in trouble, rest for the weary, and that His own words would never pass away. His comfort is not just that hard times end, but that He is with us until the end.

• The phrase does not appear in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John.
• John 16:33 says we will have trouble but should take heart because He has overcome the world.
• Matthew 11:28 invites the weary to come to Him for rest.
• John 14:27 offers His peace, unlike the peace the world gives.
• Matthew 6:34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow.
• Matthew 28:20 promises that He is with us always.
• Matthew 24:35 says heaven and earth will pass away, but His words never will.
• Mark 4:39 shows Him calming a storm with the words “Peace, be still.”
• John 16:20 says sorrow will turn to joy.
• Jesus offers more than a saying; He offers Himself as our anchor.

This Too Shall Pass Bible Verse KJV

In the King James Version, there is no verse that reads “this too shall pass.” Readers searching for it usually find comfort in KJV verses with similar meaning, such as Psalm 30:5 and 2 Corinthians 4:17. 

The KJV’s poetic language makes these verses especially memorable for prayer and journaling. They show that sorrow has an end and that God’s promises are lasting.

• Psalm 30:5 (KJV) speaks of weeping enduring for a night but joy coming in the morning.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 (KJV) calls affliction “light” and “but for a moment.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) says to every thing there is a season.
• Psalm 126:5 (KJV) says they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
• Romans 8:18 (KJV) compares present sufferings with future glory.
• Isaiah 41:10 (KJV) says “Fear thou not; for I am with thee.”
• Lamentations 3:22-23 (KJV) says His compassions fail not and are new every morning.
• John 16:33 (KJV) tells us to be of good cheer because Christ overcame the world.
• 1 Peter 5:10 (KJV) promises God will make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle us.
• These verses are easy to memorize and share on cards, posts, and devotionals.

Suffering Reminds Us Where True Joy and Lasting Hope Are Found

Hard times strip away things we lean on and show us what truly lasts. Scripture teaches that real joy is not tied to comfort but to God’s presence.

 Suffering can redirect our hearts from fading things to eternal ones. In that sense, pain becomes a teacher that points us home.

• Psalm 16:11 says fullness of joy is found in God’s presence.
• Habakkuk 3:17-18 shows joy in the Lord even when everything fails.
• Romans 15:13 calls God the source of hope, joy, and peace.
• 1 Peter 1:6-7 says trials prove the genuineness of our faith.
• Suffering reveals what we have been trusting more than God.
• Worldly comforts fade, but God’s love does not.
• 2 Corinthians 4:18 tells us to fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal.
• Hope in Christ stays steady when circumstances shake.
• Many believers say their deepest faith was born in their darkest season.
• Joy found in hardship is deeper than joy found in ease.

His Power Works Within Us

God does not only watch us from a distance; His power actively works inside believers. Paul writes that God is able to do far more than we ask or imagine according to His power at work within us (Ephesians 3:20). 

When we feel weak, His strength is made perfect. This is why we can endure what seems impossible.

• Ephesians 3:20 says He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine.
• Philippians 2:13 says God works in us to will and to act for His good purpose.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 says His power is made perfect in weakness.
• Philippians 4:13 says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
• Isaiah 40:29 says He gives power to the weak.
• Colossians 1:29 describes Christ’s energy powerfully working in us.
• Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that victory comes by His Spirit, not by might.
• Weakness is not a barrier to God’s work; it is often the doorway.
• Prayer opens our hearts to receive His strength.
• You are not facing this season in your own power alone.

When It Passes, We Will Come Out as Gold

Job said that when God has tested him, he will come forth as gold (Job 23:10). Gold is refined by fire, and the heat removes impurities while leaving something valuable behind. 

In the same way, trials purify faith and reveal its true worth. The season that feels like fire is shaping something beautiful.

• Job 23:10 says that after being tested, he will come forth as gold.
• 1 Peter 1:7 says tested faith is more precious than gold.
• Zechariah 13:9 describes God refining His people like silver and gold.
• Malachi 3:3 pictures God as a refiner and purifier.
• Proverbs 17:3 says the Lord tests the heart as fire tests gold.
• Fire removes what is false and keeps what is real.
• The refiner stays close and watches the process.
• Trials often burn away pride, fear, and self-reliance.
• What emerges is stronger, purer, and more valuable.
• Hold on, because the season you are in is not your ending.

God’s Faithfulness Endures Through Every Season

Seasons change, but God does not. Scripture repeatedly declares that His faithfulness lasts through every generation and every circumstance. 

Whether we are in a time of joy or sorrow, His promises stay firm. This is the real comfort behind “this too shall pass”: God remains.

• Lamentations 3:22-23 says great is His faithfulness, new every morning.
• Psalm 100:5 says His faithfulness continues through all generations.
• Deuteronomy 7:9 calls Him the faithful God who keeps covenant.
• Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 says God is faithful and will provide a way through temptation.
• Psalm 36:5 says His faithfulness reaches to the skies.
• Isaiah 54:10 says His unfailing love for us will not be shaken.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says He who calls us is faithful and will do it.
• Looking back at past rescues builds trust for the present.
• Every season ends, but His faithfulness never does.

Conclusion

“This too shall pass” is not a Bible verse, but the truth behind it runs through all of Scripture. Psalm 30:5, Ecclesiastes 3:1, and 2 Corinthians 4:17 show that sorrow, trials, and even seasons of ease are temporary. The deeper comfort is not that time moves on, but that God stays the same through every season.

 He renews us daily, strengthens us through suffering, and brings us through the fire as gold. So when life feels heavy, hold on to His promises rather than to a proverb. His faithfulness endures, and joy does come in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is “This Too Shall Pass” in the Bible?

No, the exact phrase is not in the Bible, but verses like Psalm 30:5 and 2 Corinthians 4:17 teach the same truth.

Who said “This Too Shall Pass” first?

The original author is unknown; it comes from old Persian folk wisdom and was popularized in English later.

What is the Bible verse closest to “This Too Shall Pass”?

Psalm 30:5 is the closest: weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

Is there an Old Testament verse for “This Too Shall Pass”?

No exact verse exists, but Psalm 30:5, Psalm 126:5, and Ecclesiastes 3:1 carry the same message.

Did Jesus ever say “This Too Shall Pass”?

No, but in John 16:33 He promised peace in trouble because He has overcome the world.

Is “This Too Shall Pass” in the KJV Bible?

No, it is not in the KJV or any major translation.

What does “This Too Shall Pass” mean spiritually?

It means no season lasts forever, so we should trust God, who never changes.

Is “This Too Shall Pass” a good saying for Christians to use?

Yes, as long as your hope rests on God’s promises and not on the proverb alone.

Why does God allow suffering if it will pass?

Scripture says suffering builds perseverance, character, and hope, and is never wasted in God’s hands (Romans 5:3-4).

What should I pray when I am going through a hard time?

Pray honestly for strength, peace, and trust, using verses like Philippians 4:6-7 as a guide.