Your Calling has Little to do with Age

It’s after 9:00 on a cold February night. My husband has just crawled into bed after his 14 hour day. He is surprisingly upbeat and I’m grateful for it. Life has thrown him some curves lately and I am proud of who he is today and how he is handling it. I’m not sure I could if it were me. I get embarrassed, red faced and shy. I’d rather just save face and avoid the whole situation if it were me. But he faces everything, head on, with strength.

I’m what you call a recovering quitter. If it looks difficult, I won’t even start. Heck, if it even smells difficult I may give a half-hearted commitment and will most likely back out. And if I think I will fail or that thing is too big, I’m definitely not in.

I sneak into our bedroom using my phone as a light and head to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I look in the mirror at my chapped winter skin. This winter has been colder than last and it shows. It shows in the electric bill, the propane tank, and in the recent sweat pants I purchased. I look into my eyes, they are tired from a long day at the computer trying to figure out this thing called life. Tired from looking up jobs and trying to force-figure out what plan God is working out. Tired from scrolling emails and webinars and newsletters that are filling up my inbox, filling up my brain.

I notice how pronounced my crows feet look now and I’m pretty sure I have 3 new wrinkles near one. I look up and notice the 5 strands of gray hair that I’m nearly 100% positive were put there from 2017. I have never had gray hair before. This is new. I notice the date and the new month and am reminded that my birthday month is next. I usually have to remind myself of my age, but this year it is remarkably clear that I will be 35. There is no math involved. Yep, the big 35. It used to be that 40 was big. But when I say big I don’t mean age wise. I mean blessing wise. This year is the year of the Lord’s favor for me. It was spoken over me and I am declaring it.

You see Isaiah 61 has been my life verse for the past 3 years, however, I had only been focusing on the very popular verse 3. I was reminded of the potential of verses 1 and 2 on one Sunday when the Holy Spirit met me during a prophetic word that nearly sent me to my knees in the middle of service. “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,”

I try to remind myself of this key portion of scripture as I yearn to accept my aging face. After all, Jesus’ ministry-age was 33 years old. There is so much hope for my future. It is only obedience from here on out. A steady battle to know my Savior better than ever and to serve my community, to serve the brokenhearted, those who have no voice of their own, and especially the weak, no matter what it costs. Even if it causes more wrinkles.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” The Lord has renewed my strength to serve even when sleep, sickness, and the world seemed to be against me. I am positive He can do it for you too.

#ageisjustanumber #obedienceisntweakness #stronginHim