Some weeks ago, I attended a funeral that really moved me.
A 93-year-old lady went to Heaven, and we accompanied her family as they are close friends of ours.
During the whole service, there were people speaking about this woman, who was a faithful Christian, and her many years of loving service to God. Even in her last days, she continued to talk about Jesus to all her doctors and nurses. When we visited her at the hospital, she was the one giving us words of comfort and used her last breath to challenge us to serve God with all our hearts.
The devil will tell us over and over again that we are too old or too young to serve Him. He will make you doubt your ability, your capacity, and your skills.
However, let me tell you something: while you are breathing, you are capable of serving God.
But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, “The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him! – Psalm 92:12-14
Even in old age, they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.
When you believe that, because of your age, God won´t use you, you feel useless and think that you have no value for the Kingdom. This is a lie that Satan uses to destroy your self-image by making you believe your life has no value.
This could not be further from the truth.
Joshua 14:6-12 tells us the story or Caleb. He was forty years old when Moses sent him with another eleven spies to the land of Canaan. From the twelve spies, only he and Joshua came back with a good report, believing that God had given Israel the land and would enable them to conquer it.
Forty-five years later, when he was eighty-five, his faith was still strong, his desire to serve God and the passion of his heart were intact.
“Give me that mountain” was his plea. Give me the hardest fight. Give me the biggest obstacle.
He wholly followed the Lord of Israel and he knew that his faith in the Lord would allow him to conquer anything.
“We are never too old to make new conquests of faith in the power of the Lord. Like Caleb, we can capture mountains and conquer giants if we wholly follow the Lord. No matter how old we become, we must never retire from trusting and serving the Lord.” Warren Wiersbe, Be Strong
On the other side of the spectrum, we see Paul telling a young Timothy not to let anyone despise him for his youth. He encourages Timothy to be an example for the believers and to serve God with all his heart despite his age.
When young people think that they are too young to serve, they don´t feel like an important part of the church. Yes, they will make mistakes. Yes, they still have many things to learn. However, as the next generation, as those who will receive our legacy of faith and carry on with it, we can´t let them think that their involvement in the church is not needed. How many of our youth have we lost in our churches because of this lie?
When God gives you the opportunity to serve Him, He looks at your heart, not your date of birth.
Don´t let Satan tell you that you are too old to be used by God. Don´t let him tell you either that you are too young or inexperienced to serve God. God has a place for everybody.
Content in His service,
Edurne lives with her husband and three children in Puerto Ayacucho, Venezuela, where they serve as missionaries to tribes in the Amazon jungle. Her passion is to help women and children understand God´s Word and help them grow and flourish in their faith. She serves with Love God Greatly International and leads LGG Spanish. You can find Edurne and her team at: Ama A Dios Grandemente
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What a powerful message!!
Praying for my 3 daughters to come back to Jesus.
Praying with you Patricia! 🙂 Hugs!
Thank you for this! My church is small and so diverse in age since it’s close to a college community. I really hope they see the call to serve is for everyone and they should never feel ashamed or afraid because of age.
I pray your church can see this diversity as an opportunity to reach many different people for Christ!! Blessings!! 🙂
Thank you for encouraging my 70-year-old heart. I know God can use me as I see Him doing just that each and every day lately. I am a new widow and much is reeling around me, my life, my world yet God is completely in control. He is going before me in so many ways, plus Hs has His arms wrapped around me comforting me and raining His peace upon me. I feel so blessed and know that it is He that is the power of my life.
May God continue to bless your ministry and you.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Ah dear Linda, God will definitely use you in mighty ways! I´m very sorry for your recent loss. May God comfort your heart and give you His peace. Blessings!! 🙂
I am a 69 year old high school leader at my church. Sometimes I feel way too old to be doing this but I know this is what God has for me. The girls in my group are just absolutely precious to me. Even though we might have physical limitations at times we are never too old to impart Godly wisdom to the younger generation.
I have been stuck solid in a rut since losing my job . The question goes far beyond why me to how do I serve God now in Middle age and stuck with no way forward . A future ? Trusting God when you are young is easy , when you,re older and still waiting for a move of God makes you think – did I make a huge mistake along the way ?Trust is not needed so much when everything is going great . Real faith comes in times of lack and being a bit lost . I get it , trust the lord No matter what you see in front of your nose . Its not a sleigh ride but it’s means that you are closer then you might think . Breakthrough is coming . ?
I am 62 years old now, and am struggling with get older. I often feel as though I have no usefulness anymore and even doubt the abilities, that God has given me, I will be able to complete show his work in me. When I look at the world now, it’s all beautiful women and young handsome men that seem to be everywhere and is what everyone wants to see, and not hear or see an old man like me. How can I use the talent s that my Lord has given me, with such doubt in my life? I want to give up at times.