READING: Psalms 38-40, Romans 8:1-17
Suffering has a way of reminding us that life is short. In the psalmist’s lament of Psalm 39, he faced the reality of his own limitations. We don’t know for certain what the psalmist was facing, but the weight of his burden is apparent throughout this poem. In the midst of all of it, he saw the brevity of life:
“Lord, make me aware of my end and the number of my days so that I will know how short-lived I am. In fact, you have made my days just inches long, and my life span is as nothing to you. Yes, every human being stands as only a vapor.” (Psa 39:4-5)
Too many of us, though, beginning with me, fail to think enough about the short nature of our earthly existence. We almost live as if our human minds and bodies will never face death, and we strive for things that are hardly enduring – yet we treat them as if they were. The “vapor” nature of our lives seems not to affect us.
Further, we don’t recognize the transient nature of our lives, so we fail to appreciate the sanctifying power of our troubles. May God remind us today that life is short—but He’s fully in control of both our mountaintops and our valleys.
PRAYER: “God, teach me to love what You’re teaching me today in light of eternity.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Psalms 41-45, Romans 8:18-9:5
