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Sep 12, 2022 18:30pm

Age Does Not Define Us

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The desire is there. You’re motivated, you want to do it, you just can’t. I think that’s probably one of the hardest things about getting older, not being able to do the things you used to.

I would hear it from my dad a lot growing up because of his heart disease. He wanted to get out there and play ball with us, but he just couldn’t. We would go places and he’d need to sit and take a break to be able to breathe. He’d want to keep going but just couldn’t.

And now, I see that same disappointment in my father in-law. He would love to be able to do all that he used to, but, with age, he simply can’t.

If we focus so much on what we can’t do, feelings of defeat, being useless, and depression can set in.

Even though we are limited physically as we get older, there are still many things we can do.

I’ve seen my father in-law still put together a sermon and preach it to a church. I’ve seen him help take care of our dogs, iron his shirts, fix a lawnmower, and peel apples for an apple pie (he might deny that one).

Age does not have to define us. Instead, it may simply change the focus of our efforts.

“Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.” (Joshua 13:1-6)

Joshua, the great warrior! Under his leadership, the Israelites conquered great kingdoms and took the land God had promised for them. Joshua had fought many battles over the years and the news of this man and his God traveled from city to city. But as we turn to chapter 13, we see Joshua is now well-stricken in years. Commentators say he was between 85-100 at this time. But if you’ll notice in the text, just because Joshua had gotten older, didn’t mean the Lord was finished with him. Age didn’t define him; it just changed the focus of his efforts. Instead of waging another war to win the land, the Lord instructed Joshua to divide the land between the tribes. He may not have been able to continue in battle, but he was still able to work for the Lord.

If you are feeling down about not being able to do the things you once could, be encouraged today! The Lord is not finished with you! He is simply changing the focus of your efforts. Don’t focus on what you can’t do for the Lord, focus on what you can!

As long as we have breath, we will praise the Lord! No matter our age or ability, we are here for a purpose! Let us continue to serve Him with our whole hearts!

Psalm 146:2
“While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”