Dr. Tan Tek Seng

DAILY REFLECTION
30 April 2026

"For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more."
Psalm 103:14-16

Watching the heartbreaking news of innocent children dying in ongoing conflicts, a painful question naturally arises: Why does a loving and all-powerful God allow such suffering? Why does He not step in to stop the violence?

Psalm 103:14–16 gently shifts our perspective. It reminds us that we are “dust”—fragile, temporary, and limited. Like grass that grows quickly and then fades, human life is brief and uncertain. This speaks not only of our physical weakness, but also of our deeper moral condition. We are prone to sin—inclined toward selfishness, pride, and brokenness.

This truth is not meant to condemn, but to humble us. It helps us see that the brokenness we grieve in the world is not separate from us; it is a reflection of the same fallen nature within humanity. The capacity for injustice and violence does not belong only to “others”—it is part of the human condition we all share.

Yet, the psalm does not leave us in despair. It leads us to hope. God fully knows who we are—our frailty, our struggles, even our sin—and still, He responds with compassion. He does not turn away in frustration or rejection. Instead, He draws near with mercy. His understanding of our weakness is the very reason He deals with us so patiently and graciously.

This reveals a profound truth: God’s mercy is not based on our strength, but on His character. While we are inconsistent and fragile, His love is steady and enduring.

Psalm 103:14–16 teaches us to shift where we place our confidence. We are not to anchor our lives in our own strength, which is fleeting, but in God’s faithful love, which never fades. In a world that often feels harsh and broken, this assurance steadies our hearts—reminding us that though we are dust, we are never forgotten.

“Your will is weak and your blind human desires are strong... You confess your sins today and tomorrow you commit the same faults again." 
— My Daily Bread (1954)