The Dangers of Wishing Your Life Away
Looking too far ahead robs us of today’s opportunities
The days are fleeting
Each day the sun dips below the river is another day that I won’t get back. I often watch the sunset there on my evening walk. Whether the day was good or bad or boring, it was my day to value. When the alarm goes off again at 5:00 AM, I breathe a prayer of thanks for a new day.
My children are growing quickly and my younger days have eased into a comfortable midlife groove.
Things are changing and I’m powerless against the changes.
There’s waiting involved sometimes. I don’t like waiting.
Besides these natural changes are unnatural ones also. Last year I attended several funerals for men who died too young. I heard stories of suicides and drug overdoses of children of acquaintances.
Last year, parents buried their children. Spouses were parted by death too soon. Friends who meant to get together never managed to do so. Brothers and sisters were separated by the vast valley between life and death.
Wishing days away
All the while, I was guilty of wishing my life away. I took the idea that life is short half-seriously. What wasteful, foolish wishing I do sometimes.
I just want my school year to end so I can enjoy my summer.
When will this little one sleep through the night?
I wish I could fast forward this mouthy teenager phase.
This day the longest work day — it needs to end.
Only two months until vacation when I can relax.
I don’t want to sit through this church meeting.
God, forgive me. When I think about the relentless growth of my children and untimely loss of life, I’m challenged. How often have I failed to find the good in a moment because I was too busy worrying about some future moment?
Changing my mind
I found myself feeling deeply introspective after this past year of growth and loss. When I fixate on and long for what the future holds, I crush the promise of the present. That’s not the kind of life I want to live.
I don’t want to miss out on the opportunities God has given me.
It always comes back to God’s unfailing wisdom. When I think about the call to know Him and share Him with others, my mind can’t help but change. I must ask God to help me value my life, each day of it.
“Teach me to number my days, that I might gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)
Teach me, Lord. Help me to appreciate and number each day You give me. Help me to revel in them, even the difficult ones. Allow me to see each as a gift.
This prayer isn’t just about missing out on my life. It’s about missing out on time with other people. My husband and kids. My friends. The lost. It’s about missing out on the Kingdom Calling on my life.
When I fixate on and long for what the future holds, I crush the promise of the present.
God has a plan and purpose for me. If I am too distracted by wishing my life away, I’ll miss it. I don’t want to waste this life. I want to embrace each day, with whatever it ushers into my life, with gratitude and purpose.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24, ESV)
Let us rejoice in today. Let us drink deeply of the gift of the here and now. May we see Jesus in every moment as we do.
Thank you for reading! I’m Tracy Gerhardt-Cooper and I invite you to follow me if you’d like to read more real talk about real life. Let’s do life on purpose.
This story is published in Koinonia — stories by Christians to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family and fun.
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