All Your Days - Crosswalk the Devotional - July 29
All Your Days
by Anna Kuta
“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).
Last month, my family was saddened to hear the news of a friend who suffered an untimely and tragic death. A believer in Christ, he had struggled with dementia for years.
At the funeral, the pastor read this verse from the Psalms:
“Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16).
What a comforting and peaceful reminder that is – that there is nothing we can do to lengthen or shorten our days. How especially powerful those words are for anyone who has lost a loved one “too young.”
Before you were born, God already knew the number of days you would live on this earth. How incredible is that thought? Though circumstances and their timing don’t always make sense, we can trust that God, in his eternal wisdom, has written in His book a grand master plan. As He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9: “’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
No death is a surprise to God, nor is any death out of the control of His will. Though none of us know in advance how long we will live, we do know that the Lord is with us from the moment of conception until our last breath – and then for all eternity for those who have put their trust in Him as Savior.
Let us never doubt the significance and impact of any life – no matter how short – for God has ordained all of our days for His purpose.
Intersecting Faith & Life: Take a minute to consider the words of Psalm 139:16 – a testament to the holy power and omniscience of God. Though life and death is a mystery to us, it isn’t to God. Let us all strive to serve and live for Him today and every day, so whether we meet the Lord tomorrow or in 50 years, we will be ready when our time comes.
Further Reading
Psalm 139
Ecclesiastes 11:5
Psalm 119:73
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!
Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
