Are you feeling old? Maybe you are old, but maybe you’re not. Maybe old is more of a feeling than an age. Don’t we associate growing old with tiredness, pain, and general malaise? So that when we experience any of these, we say, “Boy, I’m getting old.” Or “I sure feel old today.”
Last week I talked about feeling inadequate. Today we’ll look at feeling old.
As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT
In Paul’s last letter, written to instruct Timothy, he was considered to be in his mid-50s to mid-60s. By today’s standards he would have near 30 years ahead of him. But he was sentenced for execution and was feeling the weight of his life experience. He describes his feelings as being poured out. Have you ever come to the end of yourself and your ability to give? Just writing this makes me see how Paul might have felt old.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?
Psalms 6:2-3 NIV
We don’t know how old David was when he wrote this Psalm, but if he wrote it when he was being persecuted by Saul, he could have been as young as in his mid-20s. He could also be up to his mid-50s. But it’s apparent that the stress of his life made him feel old and worn out.
The weight of stress in our lives can make us feel older than our age. We come to the end of ourselves and look to God to bring help,
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Psalms 42:1, 5 NKJV
renewal,
Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 AMP
strength,
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV
and restoration.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. [Rev 7:17] He refreshes and restores my soul . . .
Psalms 23:2-3a AMP
When tiredness, pain, or malaise wears us down, Jesus invites us to let him carry our burdens.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 CEV
God is with us in the feeling old and the growing old. I’ll leave you with one last verse.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalms 73:26 NLT
Grace & Peace,
Sandy