Tell someone they look older than they actually are and you’ve likely insulted them. In our youth-driven culture, aging can sometimes feel worse than dying itself. Yet the Scriptures caution us not to buy into the world’s view of aging. When on the outside it seems like we’re falling apart, the Word tells us that inwardly incredible change is happening. In 2 Corinthians 4:16, Paul tells the Corinthian church not to be deceived by what we see on the outside:“Therefore, do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”
As we near the end of life and our bodies break down, what we see with our human eyes can lead us to lose heart. However, Scripture reminds us to focus on the unseen reality, which is that God is renewing, sharpening, and shaping us each and every day. We don’t have to wait for heaven to experience renewal. Beneath the challenge of aging, God is working a holy revamp of our hearts.
Is Slowing Down a Bad Thing?
As we age, we slow down. Naturally, most of us don’t like that. Yet slowing down is not a curse. Sure, we aren’t able to do what we used to be able to do, and we aren’t able to work quite as fast as we once did. But it is in the quiet, the slowness, and the solitude where we often are able to filter out the unimportant, zeroing in on what really matters. We’re able to remember our purpose. This isn’t possible, however, if we lead a hurried and hectic lifestyle.
Throughout the Scriptures, we can see God’s preference towards slowness. Psalm 27:14 speaks about waiting for the Lord: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 46:10 reminds us to be still, remembering God’s control and wisdom in his planning. Our heavenly Father seems to value slowness so much so that he planned a checkpoint for everyone who reaches the latter half of their lives. God intended slowness not as an experience that some of us go through, but a season for everyone to navigate. He didn’t schedule aging into some of our lives, but God allows all of us who live long enough to walk through this process. What we need to remember is that even in our old age, God is working on the heart. Our wrinkles may be more apparent and our physical bodies may not function quite as well as they used to, but inwardly our hearts are being perfected as God’s children.
Recall of how journaling, retreats, outdoor nature walks, hot tea breaks, and breathing exercises benefit us. It’s a known fact that slowing down has its benefits. The older we get, the more aches and pains we may feel; however, our minds should be constantly redirected to the fact that an inward renewal is well under way. This renewal is that is not simply for self-improvement but for the purpose of preparing us to see and be with our Maker for eternity.
Scripture reminds us to focus on the unseen reality, which is that God is renewing, sharpening, and shaping us every day. We don’t have to wait for heaven to experience renewal. Beneath the challenge of aging, God is working. Click To Tweet
Aging Softens Our Hearts and Allows God to Work
The idea of death is far fetched when we’re younger, but it can come to the forefront of our minds when we reach older age. Even when we try to avoid the reality that death is near, an older person only gets daily reminders that the end is coming. From my work in the end of life care field, I’ve discovered that the closer people feel to death, the more pain they may feel if they have not worked through past mistakes and relational failures. If they did not prioritize relationships throughout their life, they are often humbled when they find themselves with few friends or family who want to care for them. If they led self-focused lives, they may grieve over the meaninglessness of their choices. Aging has the ability to break our pride and gives a daily reminder that we are nearer to end of our earthly lives than we think.
The more I serve older adults and their families, the more I believe that aging is a tool God also uses to help us to focus our obedience on him. Consider verses like Colossians 4:2 that urge us to “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” With busy schedules, places to go, and the 24/7 presence of social media, living a life that follows these commands is no easy thing. It is hard to pray when a packed schedule leaves you in exhaustion. It’s hard to be alert when you’re never stopping or staying in one place. It’s challenging to be grateful when you’re bombarded by new products, new technology and noise.
God intended slowness not as an experience that some of us go through, but a season for everyone to navigate. He didn’t schedule aging into some of our lives. God allows all of us who live long enough to walk through this process. Click To Tweet
Thoughts that Rise to the Surface Near the End
It’s often a fall, a health lapse, or an unexpected hospital visit that cause many older adults to confront the realization that they are near the end of their life. Sometimes, it’s the realization that they can no longer power though their problems with mere physical strength. Perhaps, the sobering realization is that death may be closer than they thought. As older people need to depend more on others for their physical needs, age-related decline can often force our older family members and friends to re-evaluate whether they truly believe what they have outwardly professed throughout their lives. My work in end of life care has shown me that older adults, including self-professed “strong” believers may start to ask:
- Am I truly forgiven for my mistakes or the sins I committed earlier in my life?
- Have I made things right and forgiven others for the wrongs they committed against me?
- How will God respond when I stand before Him? Will He be pleased with my life?
- Have I been faithful?
- Is God real?
- I’m afraid.
While there are so many other questions that cross the mind of someone who is older, the time that we spend reflecting on our mortality and God’s faithfulness can lead us to greater faith. Though aging may look like a declining battle, beneath the surface, God is bringing us to a place where we can learn to increase our dependence on him, know his character better, and anticipate a greater understanding of what eternity with Him will feel like.
Though aging may look like a declining battle, beneath the surface, God is bringing us to a place where we can learn to increase our dependence on him, know his character better, and anticipate a greater understanding eternity. Click To Tweet
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Isabel Tom grew up in a multigenerational household and took part in caring for her grandparents, who lived to 98 and 102. Professionally, she has served in the aging services field. Isabel is the author of The Value of Wrinkles: A Young Perspective on How Loving the Old Will Change Your Life, and currently creates resources to help churches and faith-based organizations that want to serve the older generation more effectively.
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