Our lives fill up rapidly with a litany of mistakes – a truckload of foolishness – difficult decisions – fears – hopes – dreams. By the end of each week, our refreshment needs renewal. We’re given this time on earth as an opportunity to serve God and others. It’s a wonderful gift and we should never fail to use every minute of it to praise the One who gives it – to live thankful lives – to reach out to those who don’t yet know Him – to share this gift with others.

When we come into the world, most of us let out a loud scream as we experience our first breath. For nine months, life in our mother’s womb has provided us with safety, nourishment, contentment, a little indigestion if mom eats something spicey. Those nine months have been interrupted by the birthing process and expose us to a new way of living. As we grow into toddlers, we explore, we discover, we try, we fail, we learn, we still do foolish things. As life continues, so do the mistakes and poor choices. By the time we reach the end of our time, our bodies are often screaming again to return to the safety we knew as embryos.

When it seems that our lives are going nowhere – when it seems like no one cares – when we wonder why God just doesn’t call us to heaven – we should remember that each moment we have left has been given as a time of grace. God, in His perfect wisdom, has a reason for us to continue living. His plans may not make sense to us in the here and now, but they will be for our benefit eternally.

As this week ends, think about the impact God has had on even the smallest areas of your life. He is with you always. He will never leave you. He will deliver you from pain, suffering, emotional problems, failures. He knows what’s best for you. He loves us so much that He died for us. He is divine, so He also overcame death and made it possible for us to do the same.