Psalm 90:10-12 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, tht we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
”Life is short.” And the longer we live the shorter it gets. The young are soon old, and the old soon die. Maybe we live 70 or 80 years, which is really short compared to God’s plan for our eternal life. A short life of sorrow teaches us many things if we pay attention. We realize the shortness of this life (we number our days) and we pin our hopes on His promise of eternal life, graced to us by Jesus Christ.
Reflecting on the pains of this temporal life reminds us of our sin and our need for a Savior. Then we remember that we have a Savior who has given us eternal life. It is that life we enjoy now and will forever. We “set our minds on the things that are above, not on things that are on earth,” and “our life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3. Matthew 6:20: “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
We “apply our hearts unto wisdom” by taking our eyes off ourselves and looking to Jesus. We respond to the problems of life by focusing on Jesus, His forgiveness, eternal salvation, and new life. In a sense, we can thank God for our pains and problems for they remind us of the joys of God’s life in us. We remember His Love is stronger than death. His life is stronger than our life.