“I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, and I will add fifteen years to your life.” 2 Kings 20:5b–6a
Recently I opened my sermon journal and found a note that I had completely forgotten: “Briane, God gave Hezekiah fifteen more years of life but he squandered it. Don’t squander the time you have left after this diagnosis.”
“This diagnosis” was severe heart failure.
In 2 Kings 20:1 Hezekiah develops a terminal disease and Isaiah tells him, “Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.” But after praying earnestly, the Lord answers Hezekiah’s prayers and adds fifteen more years to his life.
Sadly Hezekiah did not use the added years well. He was prideful. He showed off his treasures to Babylonian envoys, which became a shopping list for a future conquest. His son Manasseh, born during these bonus years, became Judah’s most wicked king.
That’s why my forgotten note hit so hard. I don’t want to repeat his mistake.
What do we do with the time we are given?
I participated in a cardiac rehab program. My heart performance increased from twenty percent to thirty-nine percent—not healed, but a gift of more time and better quality.
While God was strengthening my physical heart, He was working on my spiritual heart. Physical rehab taught me that building endurance takes time and consistency. Spiritually, God was building my capacity for what truly matters. I learned which exercises strengthen versus those that cause strain. He showed me which commitments give life versus those that drain it.
My diagnosis clarified what God wants me to do with the remainder of my life: teach Scripture, write Bible studies, speak at events, write devotionals. The activities that bring glory to God and teach His Word to others are the ones that bring me the greatest joy and fulfillment. This has been an essential revelation for me.
I’d been spending hours in mental loops about situations I couldn’t control. When I released that burden, I found capacity for what God has called me to. Most recently, He opened a door to mentor a young woman in ministry, something that makes my literally broken heart so happy.
I don’t know how much time I have. None of us do. But I’m not squandering it. Not because I’ve perfected my schedule, but because God has strengthened both my physical heart and spiritual heart. I’m learning to say yes to what’s mine and no to what isn’t. And unlike Hezekiah, I’m choosing gratitude over pride and trust over control.
The note I wrote to myself six months ago wasn’t a burden; it was a gift. A reminder that every day is bonus time, and how I spend it matters.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to steward the time You’ve given me. Strengthen both my physical and spiritual heart for what matters most. Help me say yes to Your calling and no to what drains me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want more?
Read Ephesians 5:15–16. Let Paul’s words challenge you: when you look carefully at how you walk, do your steps seem wise or unwise? Why might believers need to be especially intentional with time? What’s one thing draining your mental or emotional energy that God is inviting you to release? If God added fifteen years to your life today, how would you want to spend them?
