Psalm 90:1-4 (CEB)

1 Lord, you have been our help,
    generation after generation.
Before the mountains were born,
    before you birthed the earth and the inhabited world—
    from forever in the past
    to forever in the future, you are God.

You return people to dust,
    saying, “Go back, humans,”
 because in your perspective a thousand years
    are like yesterday past,
    like a short period during the night watch.


Reflection

There are few things more humbling to humankind than the passage of time.

My father grew up in a farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania during the Great Depression. His family home didn’t have electricity until he turned 8, around 1943. The house didn’t have indoor plumbing until my Dad installed it in the early 1980s.

Dad saw a lot of progress through the years. Especially as he got older, he would sometimes reflect on just how dramatically the had world changed in his lifetime.

And yet, my father was always able to keep his place in the universe in perspective. As much as humankind’s achievements surprised and inspired him, he always knew that God was in charge. Trusting God to do God’s job meant that he could do his!

It’s true: what humans can achieve is nothing short of incredible. And yet our abilities pale in comparison to those of our God, who made us and loves us beyond measure.

By Joe Monahan


For Pondering & Prayer

Are there places you’ve visited that have reminded you of history’s impact, God’s eternal wisdom, or our limited human perspective? How does a sense of our own limits help to reinforce our reliance on God?

Prayer: Holy God, you have given us a longing for more. Let us work to create a brighter future for your children here on earth, Give us a healthy perspective on human progress. Remind us that you have placed eternity in our hearts as a sign of your infinite love and care for us, and a pointer to our ultimate reality. Amen.