photo: CCO public domain
I’m now in the 7th decade of my journey here on earth. I came to know Christ as a very young child (4) and have walked with Him for most of my life.
At this point in my life, I am not where I thought I would be. I thought I would be a sweet little old lady who was impervious to sin. I thought I would find submitting to Jesus, something that was easy, peasy. I thought that at this point in my life, I would be immune to struggles both in my Christian life and in my ability to accept difficult things that came into my life.
I was wrong!
I thought that at this point in my life, I would be immune to struggles in my Christian life...I was wrong! Share on XIn many ways, I am still the same person I was at 20. Yes, I have matured. I have grown in my ability to trust GOD. I have grown in life experience for sure. But new things keep coming up to challenge my faith. He brings new sufferings and challenges into my life that I never had to deal with before that test my endurance. stop
I have learned more about who I am in Christ. I have learned more about His power to hold me tight during hard times. I have learned more about how big GOD is and how delightfully creative He is in solving problems and working out His good purposes.
I have learned more about His power to hold me tight during hard times. Share on XI have also learned how sinful I am and how frail…particularly compared with such an infinite GOD!
This journey has been wonderful in many ways. It has been a wonderful life with unexpected joys, blessings and experiences I never dreamed of. It has also included some huge disappointments, griefs and heartaches. I think most 70 year olds would say the same thing. I never get to coast through life, as much as I would like to sometimes.
But through this journey has been the knowledge that He was with me…and will continue to be. And that His faithfulness will never end.
Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.Isaiah 41:10
Ugh. If only it didn’t seem like I have to learn the whole “Surely I’ll have it together by X-age” again and again and again! Thankfully, no matter where I think I “should” be or where I thought I “would” be at any certain age, God is still here with me – with us all – at every single stage, wooing us ever closer to him.
Peace.
Patricia (FMF#42)
you are so right patricia:) we don’t have to “have it together.” He puts the pieces together that He wants to put there for each age and allows us to experience our brokenness to the point that we turn to Him to meet our need. It’s a great plan really, but we don’t seem to appreciate facing up to that need do we? so glad you stopped by patricea:)
Thanks for sharing your wisdom from the journey, Martha. It’s encouraging to remember that even when the journey is not what we wanted or expected, God is with us and he holds us tight.
you are so right lesley. He holds us in His grip so no one can snatch us from His hand…ever!
Oh, Martha. You mean we never truly arrive?! SO disappointing to learn that. 😉
I always had images of myself at 50, at 70 and beyond. And they included me being peaceful on the inside and outside. Yeah, well . . .
I’m still very much a work in progress. I’m learning to see God in my every day. To trust Him with my wounds and to allow Him to bring healing, even when it hurts. And, as you shared, there is so much we learn about God that we never anticipated!
Such a great perspective post, my friend.
well Jeanne, re being more peaceful, once you survive menopause, you probably will be more peaceful inside:) that certainly is one of the hopes of the Gospel isn’t it?
as for arriving? this side of heaven, we never will, but we can be assured that GOD is working in us both the want to and the doing of His good pleasure! that is great. someone recently described it as the fact that we have a new nature once we are “in Christ.” that new nature is not perfect in that it still sins, but it is seeking after GOD in ways we never could or would when we weren’t in Christ.
our final hope is that in the End, we will be with Jesus and will arrive in heaven one day to find our salvation complete. there will be no more sin or death! the work done on the cross so long ago when sin was conquered will be experienced fully:) that will be an Awesome Day for sure!
Hallelujah!
Amen!
welcome tara:) thanks:)
Whaaaaaaaaaaaat? You mean…. oh no! It can’t be! Well, there goes my hope, lolol…
I like your tweet box, and I think you’re right. We learn more about God’s power to hold us tight in the hard times. It doesn’t get easier, we just learn to trust Him more. Great post friend!
sorry christy, you will never be a quiet, sweet little old lady. i won’t either. it was a pipe dream on my part:) haha! get used to it now. it’s a good thing. those young women who are spitfires will be encouraged when they meet you b/c they will know you are genuine and you will have learned the wisdom of when to hold your tongue and when not to a little more by then just as i have over the years. i’ll never be a sweet, quiet thing sitting in the corner, but i’ve learned how to be quieter and kinder than i was in my 20’s…a very good thing.
I sure HOPE so! (holding my tongue, ha) .
Haha, Martha. I’m sitting at the hair dresser and your little old lady comment made me laugh out loud. ?
LOVED this: “I have learned more about His power to hold me tight during hard times. ” I love the images that this evokes. How often do I ache for His arms?! Beautiful!
Have a wonderful weekend. (Your neighbour in #14 today)
haha Shauna:) it’s so funny what my view of what my life was going to be like when i was an old lady. somehow, i tho’t i was going to change into a different personality…it didn’t happen I’m afraid. glad you stopped by today:)
Yes, God is good and will never let go of us even if we do wander away sometimes. Praise the Lord for your faith journey! Thanks so much for sharing. God is good, all the time. Blessings upon blessings to you, sister in Christ!
thanks for stopping by mari-anna 🙂 GOD is good for sure. the work He did to deal with our sin has been amazing! i’m so thankful He is in charge of managing my sin and my journey of faith. it has been much better than I could have dreamed!