“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
I can barely believe how quickly time passes. It feels like one year ends and another begins before we have a chance to catch our breath. Looking back, many of us can probably identify goals we never reached, projects we never finished, and dreams that seem farther away than we expected.
We put so many expectations on ourselves.
We imagine that growth should happen quickly, healing should come easily, and success should arrive sooner than it does. When life doesn’t unfold according to our timeline, frustration often follows.
I am writing this to remind you of something simple but important:
Good things take time—often much more time than we anticipated. And that’s okay.
One Bite at a Time
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, my mom asks me a question that immediately puts things into perspective.
She asks, “How do you eat an elephant?”
I sheepishly respond, “One bite at a time, Mom.”
Maybe you have an elephant-sized goal standing in front of you. Perhaps you’re staring at a project that feels impossible to complete. Maybe your workload is heavy, the responsibilities of your home are exhausting, and raising your children has left you physically and emotionally drained.
Sometimes the pressure becomes even greater when we compare our lives to the carefully curated highlight reels we see on social media. Comparison is a trap. It convinces us that everyone else is further ahead, accomplishing more, and doing better than we are.
When I find myself slipping into that mindset, I have to step away and remind myself of what God has actually asked of me.
He hasn’t asked me to conquer tomorrow, He has asked me to be faithful today.
One of my constant prayers is, “Lord, teach me to take one day at a time.” God rarely gives us dreams in full bloom. He plants seeds. Then, through patience, faithfulness, and time, He causes them to grow.
Psalm 90 teaches us to number our days. Wisdom is not found in obsessing over years we haven’t lived yet. Wisdom is found in stewarding the day God has placed in front of us.
So today, stop criticizing yourself for how far you still have to go. Instead, thank God for how far He has already brought you. Celebrate the small victories and rejoice in the progress you have made. Today, trust Him with the parts of your story that are still unfolding.
Just keep taking the next step… one bite at a time… one day at a time.
