As I sit down to write this morning, I am keenly aware that summer has slipped away into fall, and winter won’t be far behind. Although I want to embrace the changing seasons, I often feel as if I have missed something. Have I been in the moment each day with the people I love, or have I been preoccupied with tomorrow, with the long line of tomorrows? Why have I lived so many years plagued with anxieties, rather than trusting God to meet my needs and the needs of those I love so much?
Because I am 65, these questions have become increasingly important to me.
For the record, I don’t feel that old. Time is a funny thing. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I graduated from high school with my whole life ahead of me. As a retired English teacher, I work as a building-based substitute in a local high school. Because I spend so much time with teenagers, I can easily forget the accumulation of years that has been my life.
But lately, I’ve been taking stock of all I’ve done and what I still want to do with my life. Yes, I do know that many people my age and even older continued to develop their gifts and to accomplish extraordinary things. But I also know that I have more years behind me than ahead of me.
So, the question that weighs on my heart is simple. Will I use my time to be the best blessing that I can possibly be to help others and to bring God glory? Since that is my goal, how do I get there? I know that God’s Word is full of promises, promises that He will guide and direct me step by step.
The problem is that I often listen to Satan’s lies. He reminds me of how many times I’ve messed up in the past. And he can be painfully specific and vivid in bringing back scenarios that I would rather forget. I imagine you know exactly what I am talking about.
But what does God say about you and me? Romans 8:33 says, “Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with Himself” (TLB). Since we know this is true, shouldn’t we examine our thoughts to get at the source of them? Someone once put it very simply for me. If your thoughts leave you feeling condemned and without hope, then those thoughts come from Satan. God corrects us and shows us what we need to do to please Him. And He actually gives us the strength to do whatever He asks.
Isn’t it time you and I believed that God cares so much that He wants to guide us in every area of our lives?
Heavenly Father, help us to guard our minds so that we can see ourselves as You do. We are forgiven because Christ died for us. We are Your children, and You want to help us, oftentimes more than we want Your help. You have good plans for today and every day of our lives. Help us trust You completely. Amen.