Aging in Christ: Great Bible Verses for the Elderly

Yesterday was my maternal grandma’s 70th birthday. My parents, my sister, my cousins and my uncle all drove from their house to hers for a surprise birthday party. We even bought her favorite chocolate cake. When it was time to blow to the candles and make a wish, as usual, she said, “I want my youth back!”

 

The lives of old people differ greatly depending on several factors like the elderly person’s health, his living situation, his family and so on. However, from my perspective, I think many start panicking the moment they turn 50.

 

All this time, life has been a combination of being independent, enjoying activities, struggling but rising through each challenge and hardship. Now, as the body ages, the energy levels go down, the body becomes stiffer and muscles start cramping more often. The body starts deserting you; first, it’s your knee, second your hip, then your teeth, followed by your skin. The longer you’ll live, the more chances of developing diseases.

 

Next, the appetite goes down, the digestion becomes difficult and you can no longer eat the foods you once enjoyed. At night, sleep becomes more and more erratic; you’ll tend to wake up often in the night and thus will be forced to sleep during the day.

 

And, there’s more! You’ll be grey-haired, usually all fat and wrinkled and obviously, unattractive. You know that looks aren’t everything, but once aging happens, you won’t be able to stand the way your body will be changing. Of course, I haven’t yet mentioned how lonely you’ll feel or how you’ll keep looking back, correcting mentally all the mistakes you’ve made, but I’m sure by now you are caught up with a huge dislike for the aging process.

 

I didn’t want to scare you (or did I?). I just wanted to give you a picture of the reality of aging. A reality that many are afraid of. They fear what they will look like in this appearance-obsessed society. They fear becoming disabled and having no one to look after them. They start imagining them wasting away their lives in nursing homes and I agree that can make the stomach churn.

 

However, when you believe in Christ, you cannot allow yourself to think of such things. As a child of God, you cannot see yourself in those pictures. While the world thinks of aging as a burden, you need to remember that this is actually a blessing from God. According to Biblical scriptures, aging is a sign of experience and you should not be afraid of it. Perhaps, the relief will come from thinking about how despite their old age, Noah built an ark, Abraham became the Father of the Nations, Sarah conceived a son and Moses delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. These Biblical characters prove that age doesn’t define who you are and no matter how old you are, God can still do great things in your life.

 

However, such wisdom only comes from God and by reading, meditating and living the Word of God, you will be able to live how God wants you to.

 

God Loves You

 

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

 

– From Isaiah 46:4

 

“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

 

– From Deuteronomy 31:8

 

“No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”

 

– From Joshua 1:5