It’s interesting to see how your perspective on life changes as you grow older. For example, I feel a sense of urgency in my life that is different from 20 years ago. That’s because I’m nearing the finish line, so to speak. I hope I still have years to live, but Dennis and I are seeing more friends and family pass on each year, and it reminds us that time is short.
So I want to make the most of that time, make the most of the years. Don’t you? I’m probably busier than I’ve ever been because I really want to make a difference, I want to be with my kids more than ever. I want to pass on what God has taught me to those He has brought into my life.
Scriptures about age and growing older mean more now, like Psalm 71:17-18, which tells us, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”
These words remind me that the call of the Christian life, from start to finish, is to communicate what God is doing in your life. And there’s something about being in this season of life that makes this call feel more urgent. Telling the stories of what we’ve seen God do in our lives feels more important even than it was 20 years ago.
I just sat on the porch the other day with a sweet friend who’s about 10-15 years younger. We had a great conversation, and several times I talked about what God was teaching me lately. I could tell she was really listening—she enjoyed hearing these words from someone just a little further along in the journey.
Our world often tells us that you become less important as you grow older. But passages like Psalm 71 tell us that those who grow in godly wisdom have much to share with the younger generation. We need to proclaim God’s wondrous deeds in our lives.
This includes telling people about the rough times we’ve endured. I remember years ago when Dennis and I were going through a really hard stretch. I printed out James 1:2-5 on a card and taped it to my steering wheel:
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
The words James wrote felt impossible to me. Each morning, I thought, “I don’t know how I’ll get through this day” because the circumstances we were in felt so difficult. But every time I got into my car, I stared at that card. I kept reading the passage over and over, because I was in the car multiple times every day.
I remember saying to God, “I don’t know what endurance looks like. But You said You’re going to build endurance in me, and I’m counting on You to do what You said You’ve promised. I want some good to come out of these terribly hard days.”
Recently I remembered this experience, and I realized my response to hard times is different than it was 20-30 years ago. I still don’t like it when my faith is tested, and it’s still not easy. But suffering doesn’t catch me off guard quite like it did, and I don’t panic as much as used to. And I know because God took me through those hard places decades ago, He will do it again.
That’s when it dawned on me: the endurance I prayed for God did build in my life and I was unaware. Now I finally saw it. I want others to know God will carry them through hard seasons because He did so for me.
Everyone in our generation can encourage the younger generation behind us to trust God, to keep believing Him. Don’t quit! He is doing work in your life in ways you can’t see or measure, just like He has in mine.
I think it’s easier in this season of life to say to someone, “God is with you,” with great confidence because we’ve experienced His faithfulness. We know experientially that “He will not abandon you and you will get through this.” I know that’s true. I know God was faithful to me. I know He didn’t abandon me. I know He didn’t let me go when I was going through hard times.
A sense of confidence in your relationship with Christ comes after decades of walking with Him that you don’t have when you’re younger. And I’m so very grateful.
Your story is worth passing on to others.
