"Sand Through The Hour Glass"

Like Sand Through the Hourglass…

I was a huge Days of Our Lives fan in High School. I can still see the image of the hourglass and hear the voice of the narrator opening each episode. Time has always been fluid in my life. It is not my intent to be rude or disrespectful I just typically run fashionably late.
There are moments in life when God uses simple, ordinary experiences to teach us profound truths. Recently, I was rushing toward a workout class and got there right on time to check in at the kiosk. Unfortunately, the kiosk refused to print a ticket because the class was already in session and late entries weren’t permitted. But I was literally on time…ugh! Everything proceeded inside: the music played, the instructor taught, and the participants received the benefit of the session. But I stood outside. Present, willing, capable, but too late to enter.

As I walked away, God whispered a gentle reminder to my heart: “This is what it’s like when you treat sacred moments casually. The blessing still happens, but you miss it.”
Scripture consistently teaches that time is not merely something to manage; it is something to steward. Paul writes: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15–16
Time is holy because it is the one resource we cannot reclaim. Once a moment passes, it is gone forever. We often lose track of days, weeks, and sometimes months; and before we know it, our rhythms of worship, fellowship, or spiritual disciplines have quietly slipped away. We don’t mean to drift. But drift doesn’t require intention only neglect.

Just like my workout class, worship still happens whether I attend or not. Small groups still gather. Opportunities to serve still take place. The Spirit still moves. God remains faithful.
But I miss the blessing of encouragement. I miss the shaping of community. I miss the joy of shared worship. I miss the voice of God speaking through others.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us: “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”

When I skip gathering with the Body of Christ and practicing spiritual disciplines I deprive myself of that joy and strength. God doesn’t punish us for missing time with Him or His people, but we do forfeit the blessing that comes through it.
Saint Augustine reminds us:  “God gives where He finds empty hands.” But when my hands are full of hurry, distraction, or indifference, I’m not positioned to receive.

It’s rarely one week that makes the difference. It’s the accumulation of time that the daily bread of scripture is unread. The prayers and little conversations with God are unspoken. The gathering in community becomes another entry on our calendar. Over time the heart feels distant. The soul senses dryness not because God withdrew, but because we drifted out of the places He loves to pour out grace.

Hebrews urges us: “Do not give up meeting together but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
 
Time away leads to spiritual decay. Time together builds spiritual strength. The beauty of God’s grace is this: He can redeem the time we have lost, but He cannot return the time we wasted.

Thomas à Kempis wrote:
“Each hour is precious; for it is the price of eternity.”
What would change if we treated our minutes as holy? Our gatherings as sacred? Our worship as priority and not the place we sacrifice to rest from our overflowing schedules.
Like sand through the hourglass so are the days of our lives.

Lord, teach us to value the time You’ve entrusted to us. Forgive us for the moments we’ve rushed through, the gatherings we’ve neglected, and the blessings we’ve missed. Draw us back into the rhythm of Your people, Your presence, and Your peace. Help us redeem the time, not out of guilt, but out of longing for You. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.