To know time is to know grief. To know time is to know the good days and the bad days, the sweet memories and the bitter memories, the hope for tomorrow and the fear for tomorrow. Even the good, rich, full days become nostalgia, a bittersweet recollection of what we can’t recreate today.
To know time—to truly admit who she is and the God who controls her—is to know humility. It’s a raw acceptance that you and I have little to no control over how many days each of us has on this earth. Scripture is clear when it says, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone” (James 4:14, NLT). As such, we are called to recognize that time is a gift meant for us to steward well.
Why Does Permanent Daylight Saving Time Matter?
So when Congress considers making daylight saving time permanent, it’s important that we prayerfully research and consider how we are impacted by later sunsets and darker winter mornings. We are to weigh what these things mean regarding school safety, sleep health, mental health, and the overall rhythms that give our lives a sense of stability. We are to consider whether having more daylight automatically guarantees a healthier life.
In short, what does it mean for us to number our days wisely, to honor God-given rhythms of work and rest, all while remaining anchored to the promise that we (and our neighbors) are eternal beings and image-bearers of the Almighty?
How Can Christians Use Time to Serve Others?
My oldest son is three, and that little prefrontal cortex of his that isn’t fully developed can “test the Jesus in me,” as many of us Southern folks like to say. But I have learned the importance of consistency in my discipline and rooting that discipline in something more important than “because I said so.” When he disobeys, we have this conversation:
Me: “How do we behave in this house?”
My son: “Wisely, kindly, and respectfully.”
Me: “Why? Because it…”
My son: “Honors God and honors family.”
I walk him through this script every day, and though this can grow tedious, it forces him to recognize the value of living wisely. There is meaning to being wise, and it’s not an attribute solely meant for scholars or the older generations (the ones who, in hopeful theory, have time on their side).
Psalm 90:12 (NIV) says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Here, Scripture is clear that our days are, indeed, limited, which makes them both fleeting and precious. Thus, it’s our calling, as the Psalmist says, to live our lives in a way that respects the treasure of time.
So how do we respect time regarding daylight saving time? We think of others. We conduct research to determine whether daylight saving time helps farmers grow their crops. We ask ourselves whether mornings are more dangerous for children on their way to school, even if we don’t have school-aged kids living at home.
Do farmers’ crops require a minimum amount of daylight? Or does an extra hour or two of darkness allow them to work in less humid, hot conditions? As for the schoolchildren, how safe are they if they walk there in the dark? Can crossing guards actually see everyone to ensure everyone’s safety? Or would extra darkness allow schools to consider pushing back the start time for the day, granting crossing guards and children an extra hour of sleep?
We are to use this dangerous but invaluable gift of the internet to find scholarly research that provides honest, valuable data on these issues, and then use our voice to speak up when the answers reveal that someone’s livelihood or safety is at stake. Like the internet, we have another dangerous, incomparable gift: social media, which allows us to pitch our findings and convictions to the world (in a God-honoring, reputable way).
We waste daylight when we don’t consider our brother, when we don’t think of those affected by daylight saving time. We undermine the important work that others do, and we risk the safety of our most innocent. Time is a service to others when we freely give of ourselves, and only then can it hold eternal weight on this side of heaven.
And when we feel inadequate or unsure of how to number our days for the sake of others, we are to remember these truths:
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 (NIV)
How Do God-Given Rhythms Help Us Find Peace?
Motherhood has taught me the invaluable lesson of creating a rhythm for my home. Children thrive on a dependable schedule because their little brains know what to expect each day. This minimizes the risk of anxiety and uncertainty that greatly impacts their impressionable hearts and minds.
In this, I can’t help but think of the Bible verse that says, “You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you” (Psalm 8:2, NLT). It’s easy to forget that some of the most fundamental parts of childhood, the very things that shaped us, are the things we need to continue as adults.
Healthy routines matter. Science tells us of God’s truth when it says our bodies need rest, our minds need renewal, and our souls need hope. This means that it matters how we spend time at night as we wind down. It matters if we spend most of our time before bed scrolling social media rather than praying or reading something wholesome. It means that we need to be honest about how darkness and light impact our mood, emotions, and perspective, and if our minds feel a bit too heavy, we must seek wise, godly counsel to keep ourselves mentally strong.
Time is an avenue to peace when we steward it well. We can look back on times gone by and rejoice in the good memories, the adventures, and the laughter, because we used time wisely. We can cherish today and fill it with good, wholesome things by serving others and finding joy in losing ourselves to humility and love. We can look to tomorrow with grand anticipation because we know that tomorrow is a gift of opportunity, a promise that God’s mercy and faithfulness are renewed each day, no matter the darkness.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
“The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.” Psalm 19:1-6 (NIV)
Frequently Asked Questions about Daylight Saving Time and Christian Wisdom
- How should Christians think about permanent daylight saving time?
Christians should consider permanent daylight saving time with prayer, humility, research, and concern for how it affects families, children, workers, farmers, sleep, safety, and community life. - What does it mean to number our days wisely?
To number our days wisely means recognizing that time is limited, receiving it as a gift from God, and using it in ways that honor Him and serve others. - Does more evening daylight automatically make life better?
Not necessarily. Later sunsets may be convenient, but Christians should also consider darker mornings, sleep health, school safety, work schedules, and the rhythms that help people flourish. - Why do rhythms of light, darkness, work, and rest matter?
God created humans as embodied beings who need rest, renewal, and daily rhythms. Wise routines can support peace, mental health, spiritual attentiveness, and family stability. - How can time become a service to others?
Time becomes a service to others when we consider how our schedules, policies, habits, and choices affect our neighbors’ safety, livelihood, rest, and well-being.
For Further Reading
Photo Credit: Unsplash/Malvestida-Magazine
Originally published August 17, 2026.
