FEBRUARY 24
Psalm 39
Psalm 39:4, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!”
I am deeply grateful for the work we do in hospice care. It is a privilege to provide comfort and support to patients and their families in their final days. Each situation is unique, but they all share one common element: a terminal diagnosis. For some, death comes quickly, as with the patient who passed away during their admission. For others, the process is more gradual, with patients living for months or even years beyond their initial prognosis. Occasionally, patients even improve to the point of being discharged from hospice, though their eventual death remains an undeniable reality.
In a broader sense, we are all in “hospice” because, sooner or later, death comes for us all. The psalmist grasped this truth and prayed for God to make him fully aware of his mortality. In Psalm 39, David asks God to help him understand the fleeting nature of his life and the measure of his days. But why did David pray this way?
While David intellectually understood the brevity of life, his prayer was for a deeper, spiritual awareness of it. The context of this prayer is essential. David, like all of us, was a sinner who battled against sin (Psalm 39:1), faced God’s discipline (Psalm 39:10-11), and sought forgiveness (Psalm 39:8). His hope, however, was firmly rooted in the Lord. He saw himself as a sojourner in this world (Psalm 39:12), knowing that the troubles of life are temporary, and that deliverance was imminent (Romans 7:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Though life’s journey can be challenging, it is comforting to know that life’s troubles are not forever (2 Corinthians 4:17). For those who have faith in Jesus, the good news is that one day they will be freed from all earthly burdens. In the meantime, our awareness of life’s fleeting nature should prompt us to make the most of the time we have, as Paul exhorts in Ephesians 5:16: “Be making the best use of the time, for the days are evil.”
“Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”—C. T. Studd
Application Questions: How aware are you of the fleeting nature of your life? The psalmist asked God to increase his awareness. Why? What changes would such an increased understanding bring?
Author: looking2jesus13
Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces.
Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon.
Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries.
After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year.
Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley.
International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith.
Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully.
Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.
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