Why We Need to Count Our Days

We often live our lives as if we are the exceptions to the rule. We see others aging, we see friends facing health crises, and we hear about people passing away, yet somehow, we convince ourselves that we have an infinite supply of tomorrow. We are just passing through this world, but our hearts often try to set down deep roots in a soil that was never meant to hold us forever.

It is a strange kind of confusion that hits us as human beings. We wake up, drink our coffee, and go about our business under the assumption that we are strong and that our time is limitless. However, the reality of our frailty eventually catches up to everyone. This isn’t a dark or depressing thought once you see it through the lens of God’s grace. Instead, acknowledging how short our time is can be the very thing that sets us free to live for what actually matters.

Psalm 39:4 “LORD, Make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; That I may know how frail I am.”

The Illusion of Our Own Strength

We really like to think we are something, don't we? When things are going well, we walk with a certain swagger. We believe that our success, our health, and our strength are things we’ve earned or things we can maintain indefinitely. Consequently, we forget that our human bodies are incredibly fragile. We are like the grass that flourishes in the morning and withers by evening.

Austin Gardner has often shared about the shock of a diagnosis. You don’t expect cancer to hit you. You don’t expect a global pandemic like COVID to bring you to the brink of the grave. We always think those things happen to "other people": the people in the news or the names on a prayer list. But one day, the name on that list is yours.

When we lose sight of our frailty, we begin to live in a state of pride and arrogance. We think we have "plenty of time" to get serious about our relationship with God. We tell ourselves that we will focus on faith-based development and spiritual growth once the kids are grown, or once the career is stable, or once we reach a certain age. We assume we aren't as old as our parents or grandparents were when they slowed down. Therefore, we make foolish decisions based on a timeline that doesn't actually exist.

Facing the Reality of Our Fragility

Recognizing that we are just passing through isn't about living in fear. In fact, it is about moving into a place of total dependence. When David prayed that prayer in Psalm 39, he wasn't asking God to depress him. He was asking for a reality check. He wanted to know the "measure of his days," so he could stop pretending to be a giant and start resting in the one who truly is.

Our bodies have a very definite, limited lifespan. No matter how many vitamins we take or how much we exercise, we cannot outrun the reality of time. We get confused and think we are the masters of our fate. Meanwhile, God is gently reminding us that we are in desperate need of Him every single second.

When you realize you are frail, you stop trying to prove your worth through your performance. You stop trying to build a kingdom here that is destined to crumble. Specifically, you start looking for Mercy and Grace in the everyday moments. You realize that you don't need to be strong because His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

The Danger of Procrastinating with God

One of the greatest traps of the "plenty of time" mentality is that it keeps us from putting God first. If you think you have fifty years left, you might spend forty-five of them chasing things that don't satisfy. We believe the lie that we can live for ourselves now and offer God the "leftovers" of our lives when we are too tired to do anything else.

This way of thinking is a symptom of not knowing our "end." If we truly grasped how thin the veil is between this life and the next, we wouldn't waste another minute in arrogance. We wouldn't let pride keep us from reconciling with a loved one or from resting in the finished work of Jesus.

God’s mercy is after you right now, ready to bring real grace and honest hope. You don't have to wait until you are "old" to experience the depth of His love. In fact, the sooner you realize your frailty, the sooner you can experience the beauty of His care. When I faced Stage 4 Kidney Cancer, the reality of my end was staring me in the face. It didn't lead to despair; it led to a deeper understanding that every breath is a gift of grace from a Father who loves me.

Counting Our Days with Joy

What does it mean to "count our days"? It means making a decision to value what God values. It means looking at our schedule, our bank accounts, and our relationships through the lens of eternity. If we are just passing through, then the things we accumulate here aren't the point. The point is the Person we are walking with.

We are told to lay our anxiousness at His feet. We can do that because we know He holds the timeline. When we keep our hearts and minds centered on Him, He keeps us in perfect peace, regardless of how many days we have left.

If you are feeling the weight of your own limitations today, take heart. Your weakness is not a flaw; it is an invitation. It is an invitation to take The Big Leap of Faith and believe that God loves you exactly as you are: frail, human, and temporary.

Finding Rest in the Finished Work

We often live as if we are being graded on how well we handle our lives. We think that if we can just stay strong enough and productive enough, we will earn our place. But the truth is, rest doesn't come after you fix yourself. Rest comes first.

Jesus didn't come to give us a better workout plan for our human strength; He came to give us His life. He knows we are dust. He knows our frames are weak. Consequently, He doesn't ask us to be invincible. He asks us to trust Him.

As we navigate this journey of being just passing through, let’s stop trying to be the hero of our own story. Let’s allow the Lord to be our strength. Think about who He is and what He can do. When you realize that your life is a vapor, you stop clutching so tightly to the things of this world and start holding onto the hand of the Father.

“The Christian life was never meant to be powered by fear, pressure, or performance. It was meant to be lived from being loved first.” When you know you are loved by an eternal God, the fact that you are temporary here doesn't bother you anymore. You are just a traveler on your way home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does God want us to focus on our frailty?
God isn't trying to make us feel bad or insecure. He wants us to see our frailty so that we will stop relying on our own limited strength and start relying on His infinite power. When we recognize our weakness, we finally become open to receiving the fullness of His grace.

Does counting our days mean we should live in fear of death?
Not at all! For the believer, counting our days leads to wisdom and peace, not fear. It helps us prioritize what truly matters: our relationship with God and loving others, rather than wasting our lives on temporary things that won't last.

How can I stay focused on God when life feels so busy?
It starts with a daily decision to acknowledge Him. When the minute hits and you feel overwhelmed, stop and remind yourself that you are just passing through. Lay your anxieties at His feet, thank Him for His mercy, and walk forward in the peace that comes from knowing He is in control of your "end" and your "measure."

#AustinGardner #Grace #Mercy #FaithBasedDevelopment #ChristianLiving