Aging is something everyone must contend with. The anxiety with it can be overwhelming but how you handle it will be the key. I myself am no spring chicken and I’ve seen a lot of water go under the bridge. When you’re young life is good. You feel like your youth will last forever. But it doesn’t take but a few milestones in life to realize-enjoy it while you have it because it is fleeting. In the old testament it seemed that people would last forever with Methuselah living to 969 years old. I can’t image living almost a century. But in paradise with Adam and Eve God had a plan that life would be great and you could live forever. The only fly in the ointment was sin. Just look at Genesis 3:3-4.

• but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”
• “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.

God’s intentions were that they would not eat the fruit but Satan tempted them with his silver tongue and they took the bait. If they hadn’t then you and I may never have existed but they did complete the act and that was “the fall.”

God let the early people in the bible live extremely long lives but then at one point didn’t want them to live that long. So today the world’s record for human longevity is 122 by a woman in France. That appears to be the limit for a human being. And now when you get to 65 you can retire or earlier if you have money. But once you get into your 50’s and 60’s and beyond life becomes quite a challenge. We know all the obstacles and health challenges that life can throw at us. That is really the time we need to rely on our Lord. Look at this scripture from Isaiah 46:4:

Even to your old age and gray hairs     I am he, I am he who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

This is God’s promise because he loves all his people of any age. I know at times you feel like “I’m going to be put out to pasture.” But God has many marvelous things that he still wants you to accomplish while you are in this world. So have conversations (prayer) with him and he can give you an idea of where he wants you to go.

And if your health fails, he is still there to sail you through those rapids and help you come out the other side. There are so many issues you can confront.

-I’m on a fixed income and barely getting by

-I have so many health issues I can’t afford my medicine

-I go through life with aches and pains daily and I really haven’t done anything

-I feel lonely and no one every seems to visit or call

These types of issues can sneak up on you over time. And many can be devastating if you have to confront them on your own. Well don’t face them alone. There are resources available and you should contact your church because many have funds available or can give you guidance on how to handle those situations. They are there and available, so give them a call. And many people rely on family members when possible. God definitely encourages this.1 Timothy 5:4 states:

⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

Another scripture to review:

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

The scriptures from the Lord will be your sustenance and help you through the tough times. God supports us and wants you to continue to share your wisdom to the next generations. You have confronted so many things in life that it would be a shame if people, family members, etc. didn’t tap into that reservoir. Everyone has value and you have much more that you can imagine.