“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
+Ecclesiastes 3:11
Leading up to my 30th birthday, which occurred on Wednesday, I was discouraged and thinking of the fact that I’m not getting any younger. Furthermore, I reflected on the fact that I am still single. I thought that I would be in a very different place than where I am. God reminded me that He’s in charge, not me. A few years ago, I foresaw that I would have a family, with a couple of kids and be leading a church as a senior pastor. So far, none of that has happened. And that is ok. Society has an unhealthy view of age. As we “climb the mountain” of age we lose vitality and opportunities to be effective in society and find true love. This is what culture tells us. This is NOT what God tells us in Scripture! Satan has deceived many of us to believe that getting older is a bad thing. If anything it is positive because with age comes emotional and spiritual maturity and also life experience. God uses length of life to teach depth of character. Life’s trials bring unique opportunities to grow and learn from mistakes and relationships.
God’s Grace and the Hands of Time
God’s grace has been the constant in my life. Jesus’ words to Paul in 2 Cor. 12:9-10 has never wrung more true in my heart. “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” is the message which keeps me going. God’s faithfulness has both preserved me and transformed me to become more like Jesus. My words and actions are slowing being conformed to the words and actions of Christ. My rebel heart has continually been humbled and softened to the sovereign will of God. Although I pictured a different path, God has guided my every step and placed me in His perfect plan. This past year was filled with anxiety about a false cultural mindset. Getting older is not a curse, it is a blessing. Additionally, being single is not a curse, it is a gift. And we are called by God to “redeem the time,” making the most of every opportunity entrusted to us because the days are evil (Eph. 5:15-17). Here’s to next year and the years to come. Let us strive together to “fight the good fight of faith” and lay hold of Christ who first held onto us (Phil. 3:12; 1 Tim. 6:12). As the hands of time turn, the grace of God holds firm. As the old hymn attests, “On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.” Let us hold to Christ the anchor and redeem the time that God has given us in our brief time on earth.
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