Nearing Home

Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails.

—PSALM 71:9 NKJV

Stand up to your obstacles. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.

—NORMAN VINCENT PEALE

The headline of an article that appeared in 2010 on a Tokyo website stated, “A robot suit that gives super strength to the elderly.” Included was a picture of the power suit modeled not by a senior adult but by an athletic youth. The caption stated that the heavy-duty suit weighs sixty-six pounds and will be originally priced at 1 million yen (approximately $12,000). I asked myself, “How many my age have the strength to carry around sixty-six pounds for an hour, much less all day; and who could possibly afford such an expense?” I was relieved that the article indicated that there were no plans to sell the suits overseas. I’ll just be content struggling to get my shoes on each morning!

I had to look carefully at the article to discern just how an exoskeleton suit made of metal and plastic could give any strength. The secret was not in the suit but in the eight electric motors and sensors responding to commands through a voice-recognition system, enabling the body to lift and bend without strain to the muscles. While this futuristic invention may never be seen in our department stores, the brainstorming behind it reveals man’s desire for strength and power beyond himself.

A sixty-five-year-old father was helping his son move into a new house. When the son told his buddies about it, he said, “Dad and I were trying to move the freezer into the kitchen. I went to the garage to get the hand truck. When I returned, my dad had moved the freezer across the deck and into the kitchen the hard way—by sheer strength! My first response was to remind him he could have thrown his back out or pulled a muscle. Then I saw the twinkle in his eye. He was proud of his accomplishment, and I have to say, I was proud of him. Old man strength came to mind, and I concluded that there was a lot I could learn from this man with the silver hair who has always stood strong and exhibited sheer determination.”

The Bible says, “The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head” (Proverbs 20:29 NKJV). Young people often take for granted the strength and wisdom the aged can still possess, and the aged sometimes push the limits of their wisdom! But I can certainly remember as a young man thinking of my father as one with great strength. He was a farmer. He worked with his hands. And as he grew older, my respect grew deeper for his strength of wisdom.

As I am living much longer than my father did, one of my great surprises in the aging process has been the loss of strength to do the simplest things: getting up from a chair, having endurance to visit with someone longer than an hour, or just going to the doctor’s office. God knows our infirmities. He knows our strength wanes as the years pass. Our dependence on Him delights Him. Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:29 that he depended on Christ’s mighty power that works within, and we can claim this as well. Remember, He didn’t create our bodies to live forever, and He knows exactly how we feel.

We shouldn’t spend time thinking about ourselves and how weak we are. Instead we should think about God and how strong He is. Just as the sensors built into the power suit respond by voice recognition and infuse the suit with power, we are told to respond to God’s voice and He will be our strength. The psalmist wrote, “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart” (Psalm 73:26 NKJV). Are we depending on Him? Are we recognizing His voice?

WHEN GOD SPEAKS

I have never heard the voice of the Lord audibly, but the Lord has spoken to me many times throughout my life. You might ask, “How can someone recognize His voice?” The Bible says, “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37 NKJV). To recognize the voice of the Lord, we must belong to Him.

A grandmother and granddaughter were shopping together one day, and every time the young girl’s mobile phone would ring, she would immediately answer by saying the caller’s name. After several phone calls, the grandmother was puzzled and asked, “Dear, how is it that you know the name of the person before they even have a chance to speak?” The granddaughter giggled, hugged her grandmother’s neck, and said, “It’s a new technology, Granny. Caller ID.” When the granddaughter explained how it worked, the grandmother said, “Well, I declare, we didn’t have to have that technology back in my day. My neighbor was the one who identified all those who called—we shared a party line.” Then the granddaughter was the one perplexed until she heard the amazing story of shared phone lines, before her time.

Well, Ruth never had to identify herself when she called me on my many trips around the world. When I picked up the phone and heard her speak, I knew the voice of my wife. That was also years before mobile phones and caller ID. I never had to ask my children to identify themselves by name when they phoned. I could easily distinguish the voices of my daughters Gigi, Anne, and Bunny, and my two sons Franklin and Ned. My sisters Catherine and Jean, and my brother, Melvin, were unmistakable voices to me. I can remember times when I would answer the phone and hear my mother’s sweet voice. I never had to ask who was calling. We recognize the voices of those who are dear to us and those with whom we commune.

Likewise, if we are communicating with the Lord Jesus through prayer and meditating on His Word, our spirits will identify with His voice. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV). The Lord would not expect us to hear His voice if He did not make it possible. He sends out His mighty voice (Psalm 68:33) and says we can hear it (Psalm 95:7): “I will give them hearts that recognize me as the LORD” (Jeremiah 24:7 NLT); and “Obey My voice, and I will be your God” (Jeremiah 7:23 NKJV).

The voice of the Lord comes in various ways: a voice in the midst of the fire (Deuteronomy 5:24); a voice upon the waters (Psalm 29:3); a voice from Heaven (Matthew 3:17); a voice out of the cloud (Matthew 17:5); the voice of His mouth (Acts 22:14); a voice from the excellent glory (2 Peter 1:17); and a voice out of the throne (Revelation 19:5).

Do we listen for His voice in our everyday activity? Sometimes He speaks, but we don’t hear. We can’t blame it on the batteries going dead in our hearing aids. God’s voice is not bound by man’s inventions. God speaks to the human heart. His voice is described as full of majesty (Psalm 29:4), a still small voice (1 Kings 19:12), and a glorious voice (Isaiah 30:30). The Lord’s voice is identified as the voice of the living God (Deuteronomy 5:26), the voice of the bridegroom (Jeremiah 7:34), and the voice of the Almighty (Ezekiel 1:24).

His is a powerful voice (Psalm 29:4). It shakes the wilderness (Psalm 29:8), divides the flames of fire (Psalm 29:7), thunders (Job 37:5), and rushes like many waters (Revelation 1:15); and His voice cries to the city (Micah 6:9). We are to obey His voice (Deuteronomy 13:4) and hearken to the voice of His word (Psalm 103:20).

Telecommunications have changed our world. It used to be that when I would get on an airplane, my wife would be assured she wouldn’t hear from me for hours. Now there are few instances when anyone is disconnected. We can call from the sky while in flight. It is no longer necessary to pull off the highway to make a call from a pay phone. But sometimes reception is difficult. It is not unusual for a cellular phone to drop a call in midsentence or for the transmission to be interrupted momentarily because of interference. Often people nearly scream into the phone, “Can you hear me?” A reply comes back, “I can hear you. Can you hear me?” It’s sometimes comical to hear the younger generation ask their peers to repeat themselves.

The first question God asked man is: “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard Your voice in the garden” (Genesis 3:9–10 NKJV). God also questioned the woman, “What is this you have done?” (Genesis 3:13 NKJV). If Eve had had a mobile phone, she may have suggested there was interference on the line.

But there is nothing humorous about broken communication with the Lord of our lives. When it happens, I can assure you that we are the interference—not Him. Sometimes we don’t want to hear what He has to say because we already know what the Word of God has told us. The Bible is full of accounts of men and women hearing the voice of the Lord but not recognizing it at first. This happened to the prophet Samuel. God called him by name, over and over. Samuel thought it was someone else. But the Lord persisted until Samuel recognized His voice (1 Samuel 3:11).

If God did not want to commune with us, then He would not question man; but not only does He want to communicate with us, He also wants to hear from us. He expects a response. Isaiah “heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send?’” Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). The persecutor of Christians heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” In this remarkable exchange, Saul responded, “Who are You, Lord? . . . What do You want me to do?” (Acts 9:4–6 NKJV). This dialogue was the beginning of the apostle Paul’s great ministry.

But God’s voice isn’t always heard in the form of a question. He is a loving God who cares about our needs. His voice gives comfort and guidance. Gideon heard the Lord speak peace (Judges 6:23), and Habakkuk heard God’s voice say, “The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).

Many people have told me over the years that they believe God speaks through His Word, but they don’t believe He actually hears their pleas. Scripture dispels this. For those who fear and honor the Lord, He hears the voice of weeping (Psalm 6:8) and says,

Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded. . . .
There is hope in your future. (Jeremiah 31:16–17 NKJV)

If ever you feel lonely and weak, listen for God’s words of comfort: “Hear my voice” (Isaiah 28:23), and “Lift up your voice with strength” (Isaiah 40:9 NKJV). He hears the voice of your words (Deuteronomy 5:28) and attends to your voice in prayer (Psalm 66:19). I hope these reminders from Scripture boost your spirit.

At my age I can sympathize with most seniors. The good old days call me back at times, especially when I am with friends who have shared so much. While I choose not to dwell on the past or relive my youth, there are times I long to hike up into the hills with my children or stand in the pulpit to deliver a Gospel message. But the walker, wheelchair, and cane near my bed remind me that chapter in life is past. So I thank God for the memories that have enriched my life but look forward to new opportunities, to experiences that can add some dimension to the present. Our attitudes play a major role in the closing scene on life’s stage.

WHEN YOUTH FADES

“Birthdays are good for you,” someone said. “Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.” A reply came, “Looking fifty is great—if you are sixty!” It is all perspective. Children look at their thirty-year-old parents as old, their grandparents as ancient. Grandparents look at their children and grandchildren as forever young. Yet children are always pushing their young age up as fast as they can. Ask a child how old he or she is. The answer will always end with “and a half.” A ten-year-old can’t wait to be twelve. The twelve-year-old wants to be a teenager. The teenager wants to be old enough to get married. Couples are anxious to marry their children off so they can become grandparents. When they get to the grandparent stage, they begin complaining about being too old.

Our society is made up of obsessive contradictions: the young want to be rewarded with big jobs without obtaining experience, the middle-aged brag about working out at the gym but can’t wait to retire in order to rest, and the old want to drink from the fountain of youth. The truth is that instant success robs young people of the journey; but it is along the journey that we obtain knowledge, collect memories, and have a sense of achievement that makes life a rewarding experience. And older people are often deceived by miracle drugs and creams promising renewed beauty and vigor. Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer who traveled at one time with Christopher Columbus, went in search of a magic water source that people called the Fountain of Youth. Rumor had it that drinking its waters would keep one young. Ponce de León was determined to find this legendary fountain; instead he found Florida—what became America’s retirement haven. How many couples have packed their belongings, pulled up roots, and left home and family to set up housekeeping in a condo on a Florida golf course—with a nursing home across the fairway?

A plastic surgeon in the Sunshine State named his private practice Fountain of Youth Institute, but according to a recent report by Scientific American, the Fountain of Youth is a myth. It reports, “The prospect of immortality has always had universal appeal.” The article includes a position statement containing this warning: “No currently marketed intervention—none—has yet been proved to slow, stop or reverse human aging.”1

I am reminded of a young teenager who pulled up a chair beside his grandfather and said, “Poppy, the wrinkles on your face are starting to cover up the scar you are so proud of!” The wise grandfather smiled, patted the boy on the back, and said, “Son, scars, wrinkles, and rusty bones have lots of stories to tell.” That afternoon, the grandson learned about his heritage. A few years later, he enlisted in the United States military. When asked why, he replied, “I want to earn my scars and wrinkles like my grandfather did.”

The world’s idea of a fountain of youth is a mirage. Only the Bible provides an oasis for the soul: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 14:27). To grasp the meaning of this verse, we must first understand what “fear of the LORD” means. It is contrary to being afraid of Him. God would not have sent His Son to earth to communicate with us if He wanted humanity to be fearful of approaching Him. This wonderful phrase throughout Scripture is a reminder to be in reverential awe of God, to love Him with our whole being and commit ourselves joyfully to Him in all things: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV). The apostle John said it this way: “Keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts” (1 John 5:21 NLT).

Here we see a wonderful picture of a fountain that flows with life-giving blessings: “For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see” (Psalm 36:9 NLT); “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 10:11 NLT); “The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 13:14 NLT); and “Discretion is a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 16:22 NLT). Then the Lord Jesus sums it all up in the closing book of the Bible: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things” (Revelation 21:6–7 NKJV).

The fountain of life is real, friends. We can draw strength from its resources and stand strong in our resolve to be overcomers, looking forward to the inheritance and being in the presence of the Savior of our souls. Though the eyes of the tired, overworked, and aged may dim, His light will pour into our hearts. While the lips of the elderly may be silenced, godly words will continue to flow through our beings. When hearing is a challenge, wise instruction can run through our innermost thoughts. While many may lose their ability to make decisions, others will benefit from their experiences as they also blaze new trails.

Some time ago I met an acquaintance I hadn’t seen for at least twenty-five years. As we shook hands the thought flashed through my mind, My goodness, he’s turned into an old man! (He probably thought the same about me.) When I had last seen him, he was tall and athletic; now he was stooped and wrinkled, trembling slightly and leaning heavily on his cane. He was still the same person, but the years had taken their toll.

Later it occurred to me that if we had seen each other every few months instead of only once in twenty-five years, we’d probably not have noticed any changes. As a rule growing older is an extended, gradual process; we don’t go to bed young one night and suddenly wake up old the next day. Just as life is a journey of many steps, so is that part we commonly call the golden years. And yet if we live long enough, old age inevitably will overtake us.

We may not like to admit this; we may even deny it and devote our energies to keeping old age at bay. Cosmetic companies and plastic surgeons promise to keep us looking youthful if we will only use their products or submit to their services; vitamin manufacturers claim their wares can retard the aging process; exercise gurus and medical experts point to the benefits of healthy living. Up to a point some of their claims may be valid. Careful attention to our health may slow down the aging process and ward off some of its more onerous effects—at least for a time. This isn’t necessarily wrong; God wants us to take care of our bodies. The Bible says, “Honor God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

In reality some people seem to have stronger genes and age more slowly than others. Some are old at sixty; others seem almost ageless. As I dictate this, my longtime associate and friend George Beverly Shea has just celebrated his 102nd birthday, and he is still alert and sprightly. Several months ago he spent a couple of days sharing his music with prisoners at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana, one of our nation’s largest prisons. Shortly after his birthday he and his wife, Karlene, journeyed to Hollywood, where he was honored with a lifetime Grammy Award for his singing career—the oldest person ever to receive that prestigious (and well-deserved) honor.

Within days of Bev’s return, he and Cliff Barrows, who has served with me in ministry from the beginning, participated in one of Bill Gaither’s Homecoming videos taped at the Billy Graham Library. The outdoor concert was taped under an enormous tent with 140 Gospel music artists on the platform. Cliff at age 88 and Bev at age 102 sat on stage singing with the others the great songs of faith way into the night. When Bill and Gloria Gaither came to my home for a visit the next day, they told me how Cliff walked to the center of the platform and led the great choir and congregation in singing “Blessed Assurance.” Others reported to me that in spite of Cliff’s cane, he directed that night with “gusto.” I have seen Cliff lead hundreds of massive choirs down through the years, but I would have liked to have been there.

But no matter who you are, nothing will halt the onset of old age completely, and like it or not, the longer you live the more its burdens and disabilities will become your companions. Rather than deny the realities and ravages of old age, it is far better to admit them and prepare for them—and, by God’s grace, even welcome them as part of His plan for life.

WHEN LIFE SLOWS DOWN

If I had to summarize in one word the changes that come over us as we grow older, I’d probably have to use the word decline. Most obvious is the decline in physical strength and the ability to do everything we once did. Gradually our muscles grow stiff and lose strength; our mobility lessens; our hearing and eyesight begin to deteriorate; our reactions slow down; our physical stamina begins to fade. Much as I might wish otherwise, at the age of ninety-two I no longer can get out of a chair by myself. Several years ago my doctors insisted I begin using a walker to prevent me from losing my balance and falling. I would have been foolish to ignore their warning.

As age increases, energy decreases. Everything seems to take longer, even recovering from illness or periods of activity. Someone asked me once what my biggest surprise was about growing older, and after thinking about it, I answered, “The loss of strength, the sheer inability to keep going.” In a weakened state, disability and pain are unwelcome guests that not only refuse to leave but also threaten to move in and take over.

Another new reality in this stage of life is watching friends and family members become ill or die. Hardly a week goes by without news reaching me about the illness or death of someone I have known. But it’s not only the aged. It seems as though more and more young people are being diagnosed with diseases that once were thought diseases for the elderly. Parkinson’s disease has attacked many young bodies, and I have known many parents who have taken a grown child back into the home to care for him.

In some cases older folks can learn from the younger who are dealt such blows. One young man comes to mind. He was in the prime of life—thirty years old—and had an exciting future planned. As he was driving down a highway, a pain in his chest caused him to pull over at the side of the road. When the worst of the pain subsided, he drove himself to the hospital and within days was diagnosed with a malignant tumor wrapped around his heart. Through months of surgery and treatment, his attitude amazed the doctors at the University of Michigan. He was a good-looking young man. In spite of the tubes, needles, and strong medications, his countenance shined. When the doctors asked him where he drew his strength from, he was able to share Christ with them. While the doctors gave him little hope, they tried to encourage him by saying that a miracle could save his life. He looked at them with blessed assurance and said, “Docs, I’m in a win-win play-off. If I live I win. If I die I win.” Not long after, he passed away with the great assurance that he would be united with the Lord, and he left behind a testimony that is still remembered at the University of Michigan Medical Center. That’s a lesson from which we all can learn.

There is no doubt that catastrophic illnesses take their tolls on the elderly. Just as our bodies age and decline, so do our minds. In reality the two are closely connected; as we age, physical changes take place in our brains as well as the rest of our bodies, causing everything from mild memory loss to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s is a cruel disease. I still remember the sadness I always felt when visiting former President Reagan, after the disease had tightened its grip on his mind, and he couldn’t quite recall either who people were or the office he had once held. I last saw him on the lawn of his home in Bel Air, California, at the invitation of his wife, Nancy. After I visited with her in their living room, she asked if I would like to say hello to Mr. Reagan, and I readily agreed. We stepped outside into the bright California sun. A nurse was helping the former president with his lunch. He didn’t seem to notice either Nancy or me as we greeted him. After a short (and one-sided) conversation, Nancy asked me to lead in prayer—something I’d always done whenever I visited them, whether in Washington or California. Afterward, as Nancy was escorting me back to my car, I asked her, “Do you think he knew me?” She responded, “Not until you prayed—but hearing you then, I believe he knew who was praying for him.”

Watching helplessly as a loved one’s memory relentlessly fades must surely be one of life’s hardest burdens, and those who endure it deserve our compassion and prayers.

The occasional memory lapse, however, that comes to all of us with age isn’t serious; it only reminds us that we aren’t as young as we once were. At worst it may be mildly embarrassing; at best it may even be humorous. A few years ago I was being introduced at a reception by the host, a man about my age whom I had known for many years. He was recalling to the group how we had first met through a mutual friend we both knew well. “His name,” he announced, “was . . . was . . . oh, it’s on the tip of my tongue. I know it as well as I know my own name. It was . . . it was . . .” He finally asked me in exasperation, “Billy—what on earth was his name?” But I had to confess I couldn’t think of it either—and we both dissolved in laughter at our aging memories. It calmed our fears when a minute later the name came to us.

WHEN HIDDEN PERILS COME TO LIGHT

We can see ourselves in many Scripture passages, such as this one:

You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning—
though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered. (Psalm 90:5–6)

His description is all too realistic, I’ve discovered; dry and withered are exactly how every older person I have ever met feels at times—including me.

While the physical and mental effects of old age are obvious, aging often impacts us in ways that are less obvious. These are the emotional and spiritual reactions to growing older that can easily overwhelm us if we aren’t on the alert for them. And yet, because they aren’t as obvious as a broken hip or a lost memory, they often sneak into our lives without us even being aware of them.

What are these hidden perils? Certainly one is fear. When we are facing the uncertainties of illness or growing disability or loneliness or financial stress, it is natural to be worried about what is going to happen to us. But sometimes our worries overwhelm us, and we become so absorbed by them that whatever has caused them becomes all we think about. Instead of having a passing worry, we become gripped by chronic, unrelenting fear and anxiety.

Another hidden peril is often related to fear and anxiety: depression. We look back and think about all the things we have done in life, and now we are discouraged to think we will never do them again. Doctors tell us that depression is one of the most common (and most serious) problems many older people face, although it often goes undetected. Common symptoms such as fatigue, forgetfulness, and feelings of loneliness are easily explained away as effects of aging when they could be treated.

A hidden peril of a different sort is anger. No one likes to lose control over life; we all would like to remain independent as we grow older. But often that is not possible, and this is not easy for us to accept. “I’ve never seen Mother like this before,” one person said to me. “She used to be so gentle, but now she lashes out at me every time I come in her room. I know what’s wrong: she hates not being in her own home any longer and having to depend on others to take care of her although there really wasn’t any choice.” His comment could be echoed by countless others. Sometimes the anger is directed not only at others but also at God: “If God really loved me, He wouldn’t have let this happen.” A friend commented recently, “People either seem to get better or to get bitter as they grow older.” Unfortunately, bitterness often wins.

A further peril may creep up on us as we grow older: intense loneliness, even feelings of abandonment. “No one cares what happens to me,” a woman in a nursing home said to me once. “My children live in different parts of the country and seldom come to see me. Often I cry myself to sleep, I feel so alone.” My heart went out to her, although I knew that others in her facility were facing similar situations.

Sometimes in their loneliness older people get drawn into making unwise decisions such as marrying someone they barely know or spending large sums of money on things they don’t need simply because a salesman acts friendly toward them. Many years ago an aunt of mine lived in Orlando, Florida. She had never married, but in the course of her life she had accumulated a fairly large amount of property. In her latter years, we discovered, a man with a gracious personality befriended her and wormed his way into her confidence. In time he convinced her to sell much of her property and allow him to invest her money for her. Shortly before she died, she discovered that most of the money had vanished. The man simply had taken advantage of her—and her loneliness.

One final peril is becoming so absorbed in our own problems and concerns that we can’t think about anyone else. “No one is more self-centered than a sick person,” a nurse told me once after dealing with a particularly difficult patient. I’m afraid she’s often right; sometimes I have to force my mind to turn away from whatever problem is absorbing me at the moment and make myself focus on the needs of others. Job had the same problem; in the midst of his pain and grief he apparently forgot the spiritual truths he’d once used to encourage others in their troubles. One of his friends gently rebuked him for this:

Think how you have instructed many,
how you have strengthened feeble hands.

Your words have supported those who stumbled;
you have strengthened faltering knees.

But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged. . . .

Should not your piety [your devotion to God] be your confidence? (Job 4:3–6)

WHEN CHRIST IS THE FOCUS

How do we overcome the perils that steal our zest for life? Let the promises of God’s Word, the Bible, uphold you every day. Turn constantly to Him in prayer, confident not only that He hears you but that even now Jesus is interceding for you. Focus your thoughts on Christ, and maintain your connection with other believers who can encourage and help you. The Bible’s words are true: “Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).

In the weeks before her death, my wife, Ruth, repeated these verses over and over to us. Ruth was always thinking of others. This was her secret for getting through so much of life with joy. She never focused on her problems, she turned her attention to Christ, and He always led her to someone who needed a word of encouragement or a listening ear.

My sister Catherine was in a nursing home several years before her death. She had restricted mobility, and her health was fragile. But she knew all the residents and patiently listened to their concerns. She showed them the compassion of Christ and had many opportunities to witness. The Lord used her even in her own hours of weakness.

I have been told about an eighty-six-year-old lady who is dealing with debilitating illnesses, yet she goes from church on Sundays to the local nursing home to visit the elderly, read Scripture to them, and pray for them. She looks forward to this each week. She’s focused on others.

A ninety-six-year-old grandmother has “lots of time at home alone,” she says. “I just sit in my chair and go through my prayer list. My goodness, there are so many people to pray for that it seems I run out of time.”

Another lady inching close to one hundred looks forward every week to helping deliver Meals on Wheels “to the old people.” She’s focused on people.

The Lord blesses people who bless others, and He gives grace to those who focus on the things that please Him.

Life is seldom easy as we grow older, but old age has its special joys—the joy of time with family and friends, the joy of freedom from responsibilities we once had, and the joy of savoring the little things we once overlooked. But most of all, as we learn to trust every day into His hands, the golden years can be a time of growing closer to Christ. And that is life’s greatest joy.

NEARING HOME WITH GOD’S STRENGTH

True joy is derived from depending on the Lord Jesus. He is the One who supplies our strength in weakness, for when we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). While it is important to put our own house in order, we must not forget to make the things of God the center of our thinking and doing. This was certainly the state of mind for the prophet Haggai, who wrote the second shortest book in the Old Testament at the approximate age of seventy. Haggai was stirred up by the Lord to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity. In turn he stirred up God’s people by rebuking them for allowing the house of God to remain in ruins in their homeland: “Give careful thought to your ways. . . . You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. . . . Why? . . . Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house” (Haggai 1:7–9).

What stirs me about this two-chapter book is Haggai’s rebuke along with his encouragement. Haggai mobilized God’s people to take care of God’s business and build up His house by giving them hope: “Be strong. . . . For I am with you” (Haggai 2:4).

We may be successful in putting our personal affairs in place, but if we do it at the sacrifice of the more important—putting our spiritual affairs in order—we miss the joy and purpose of life. The Bible says, “A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength” (Proverbs 24:5 NKJV). Strength is found in the wisdom of God, and that is at our disposal whether young or old.

Are you concerned only about taking care of business in a world that holds you captive? Or are you setting Christ at the center of your life with the assurance that you will abide with Him for eternity—the place where hope becomes reality? Your strength may fade, but He is the One who will lift you up and help you stand strong in your weakness. When your faith begins to fade, ask the Lord to stir it up by considering all He has done for you, and be strong, for “My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!” (Haggai 2:5 NKJV).