Isaiah 46:3-4 – Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. 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. (NIV)

Getting older can place us in a tight spot. Each year, things which hadn't seemed to be changing at all now catch me unawares. My hair is actually turning grey. The third finger of my right hand has a cyst on the tendon which causes the middle joint to lock up at the most inconvenient times. One of my hips is forever scolding me when I rise up and sit down. And as if these things weren't enough, my wrinkles are multiplying at an alarming rate and my skin sags in the most disconcerting places. Mmmm … gray hair, wrinkles, sagging skin … just a minute … maybe I'm not getting older at all. Maybe I'm simply becoming an elephant.

As much as I laugh about these things, they also concern me, especially as I know so many people who have to make decisions about their older parents or even themselves. Out of necessity, many are seeking the convenience and security of seniors' apartments or the aid of nursing homes or other care facilities. I don't want to reach this point. I don't want to have to choose to reside or to be placed in such a home. In fact, I find such a thought not only alarming but also frightening. I don't want to think that perhaps, one day, I will have to leave my home and family to live alone with a bunch of old, or worse yet, sick and old fogies. In fact, I don't even want to get any older and possibly have to depend more and more on somebody else taking care of me. After all, when we're honest with ourselves, who of us do?

And yet it happens. Things change; we get old; and we may have to make decisions or live with others' decisions which we don't like. But thanks be to God, some things don't change. For God reassures us that He Who has upheld us since we were conceived and has carried us since our birth — even to our old age and gray hairs — He is with us and will sustain us. He Who made us and carried us and sustains us will also one day rescue us from the bondage of these aging bodies to dwell eternally in glory with Himself, where He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. And that's definitely an absolutely wonderful promise to hold close to our hearts, now and forevermore, no matter how old we may be.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You remain the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and that Your promises are faithful and true just as You are. In Christ's name, we give You honour, glory, and praise. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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