One day, a hospital chaplain paid a visit to a patient who had long battled a terminal illness. In the quiet room, the patient asked for one simple thing, that they sing along to his favorite song, "Then my soul praises you, great are you, my God". Then my soul praises you, great are you, my God". The patient sang in a low voice, but his face was full of peace. Long story short, the pastor had finished his pastoral ministry and as he left the room, he shed tears. Not because he was sad, but because his heart was touched by the patient's faith and serenity. In the face of mortality, the patient was undaunted. He knew on whom his life rested, the Lord who remains faithful.

A similar testimony is found in Psalm 103:15-22. The psalmist reminds us of the same reality, that human life is fragile and perishable. The psalmist describes it poetically, “As for man, his days are like grass, like the flower of the field so is he; when the wind passes over him, he is no more, and his place knows him no more. ” (Psalm 103: 15-16). Human life is short, its traces are easily lost. But in the midst of that transience, there is one thing that does not change, namely God's steadfast love, which is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him. This is the paradox of a life of faith, humans are finite, but God's love is infinite. Our lives may be like the morning dew, quickly vanishing under the heat of the world. But God's faithfulness is like the sky that remains stretched above, vast, solid, and immeasurable. His faithfulness is not just a theological concept, but the breath that sustains our every step.

The psalm ends with a cry that extends from earth to heaven: angels, all created beings, even our own souls, are all invited to praise God. It's as if the psalmist is saying that God's faithfulness is too great to keep to himself; it must be passed on, sung, celebrated together.

Friends of the Bible, reflecting on the above psalm we see a beautiful interpretation of time and the transience of life. Both are not seen as weaknesses but rather as divine mysteries that bring us to realize His Omnipotence. In the presence of His faithfulness and love, our mortality is celebrated. Like the illustration above, the pastor is stunned that even in the midst of fragility and a life on the edge, we are never at a loss for reasons to give praise to God.