I’m getting up in years. Can God still use me? Will he still be with me?

Isaiah 46:4“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

God’s love lasts for all our days. This promise gives us a wonderful picture of God’s care for his people. He walks alongside us and carries us when we can no longer walk. In the end, he will save us, bringing us through death to our final, glorious destination.

Genesis 12:4So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.

Genesis 18:13Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’”

Exodus 7:7Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron was eighty-three when they made their demands to Pharaoh.

Joshua 13:1When Joshua was an old man, the Lord said to him, “You are growing old, and much land remains to be conquered.”

Joshua 14:10-11“Today I [Caleb] am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.”

Psalm 92:12-14The 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.

Luke 1:18Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

The Bible has numerous stories of God using older people. Even if our physical abilities are limited, we can serve God in valuable ways, such as ministries of prayer and encouragement. No matter how old we are, we can never outlive our usefulness to God.

Deuteronomy 32:7“Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father, and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.”

Psalm 71:18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

Older people have seen God’s hand in their lives over many years. What a privilege to share this perspective with those who are younger, strengthening their faith with evidence of God’s faithfulness!

Titus 2:2-5Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely . . . teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.

Older people are uniquely equipped to be teachers of God’s ways of living. With age comes the great responsibility of being a good example and a good teacher to those coming behind us.

2 Corinthians 5:2-5We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

Having an eternal perspective toward our physical changes helps us adapt to the aging process so we can be comfortable with getting older and thus put our wisdom and experience to greater use.