"Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4
This week, between Christmas and New Year's, is a good time to pause and reflect on the Christmas season as well as 2025. As we reflect on the Christmas season and this past year, many of us will often marvel at just how quickly time has passed by. It is true, time does pass by so quickly. It passes by more quickly than we could imagine. Watching the children in our lives grow up helps us to see just how quickly time goes by. If we want to make the most of our lives, we have to understand that our time is limited, so we must make the most of every second we are given.
David wrote about the brevity of life in Psalm 39. He wrote in this passage of Scripture, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is” (verse 4). David needed a reminder that many of us do, too. He needed to remember that his days were brief and numbered. He continued to write about how short life is, saying, “You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath” (verse 5). Our life is shorter than we could ever imagine and passes by in the blink of an eye. David continued, saying, “We are merely shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it” (verse 6). As David thought about the brevity of life, he, like many of us, had to evaluate where he put his hope. He wrote, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?” (verse 7). He could not put his hope in anything in this world that quickly passes away. He answered his own question, saying, "My only hope is in you" (verse 7). Of course, our only hope is in God, who never changes and who has always existed and always will. He is the only one worth putting our trust in.
Where are you placing your trust, my friend? Is it in this world that is fading away with each passing second? I urge you, friend, to look to God who will remain forever. There is no greater source of hope.
Write down Psalm 39:8 on an index card and place it where you will see it often. Let it be a reminder to you of how short life is and that God is your true source of hope. After all, He remains forever.
Psalm 39:1-13
I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.” 2 But as I stood there in silence— not even speaking of good things— the turmoil within me grew worse. 3 The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words: 4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Interlude
6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. 7 And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. 8 Rescue me from my rebellion. Do not let fools mock me. 9 I am silent before you; I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you. 10 But please stop striking me! I am exhausted by the blows from your hand. 11 When you discipline us for our sins, you consume like a moth what is precious to us. Each of us is but a breath. Interlude
12 Hear my prayer, O Lord! Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears. For I am your guest— a traveler passing through, as my ancestors were before me. 13 Leave me alone so I can smile again before I am gone and exist no more.
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