The saying appears in Jewish folklore, Persian poetry, and even a sermon by the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. He called it “a text for all seasons.” It’s a multi-faith, multi-generational hug.
In modern psychology, this is called radical acceptance. Therapists teach it to help people stop fighting reality. The Bible just got there first, with better poetry and less jargon.
Next time you hear a friend say, “Ugh, this week is terrible,” you can gently drop this gem. It’s not dismissive; it’s a reminder that even the longest week has only 168 hours.
