The Finish
This fourth and final season of a woman’s life are the years after the age of 70. This can be a wonderful season as we slow down, enjoy simple pleasures, and more hours in our day. I am personally seeing the rapid rise of this season on my horizon.
Many women may not see the positive in a season known for physical limitations, loss of friends and family members, and memory. But if we embrace the positive and accept the negative of this season, we can enjoy the finish to its fullest knowing that God’s plan is perfect and we are in it.
Sure, we will face limitations, but this can be a time of great personal reward and growth. Remember what I said about season three…if you’re still breathing God isn’t finished with you. You still have purpose and opportunity to grow, serve, and glorify God. With the seeming addition of more hours in the day of this season, how we choose to spend them can make the difference in experiencing the positive and finish our life with significant purpose.
I once knew someone who was in this final season. Her biggest complaint was not having anything to do. She felt as if she was just existing as she waited for the end to come. I thought how fun it would be not to have the responsibilities of life burdening me every day. What would I do with my extra time?
I could list ideas here, but that’s not what this post is about. The point is to consider the activity that brings the greatest significance and reward to our life. This activity is the same one we should do in all our seasons, and that is to get to know God more.
The knowledge of God and wisdom found in the Bible is endless. We can study it every day and still not arrive at a full knowledge of God. I have been amazed at the things His Word continues to reveal to me after years of study. This is the most significant activity we can choose during this season.
The next thing we can do is pray. We know the power of prayer and at a season when we have more time to spare, we can impact the lives of so many people by praying for others. Prayer can be a rewarding ministry during this season. See what James 5:16 says ~
…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.(NIV)
Think of the impact you can make by becoming a “prayer warrior” during this season. The beautiful thing is any believer can be one. It takes no special gift, just a sincere heart in a right relationship with God.
I also know a man in his 70’s who has chosen to spend the greatest part of his day in study. He has at least two different Bible studies he does each day, along with reading history and biographies. He has a small online Bible class he teaches, but refuses to promote it, saying that God will use it as He wills. So, I wondered why he spends so much time studying when, at his age, has little potential for use in ministry.
The answer came when the Holy Spirit reminded me of a principle. The greatest thing we can do in life is glorify God. There are many ways to do that, but the greatest is to desire God above all else. This man plans his day around his study, never missing one, ever. Not as a requirement, not for a ministry, not for a blessing, not even out of obedience, but out of love and desire for his creator. His purpose in this season of life is to know God more and more, period.
Never underestimate the blessing this final season holds. Regardless of our past choices in life, as long as we are breathing, we have an opportunity to realize our greatest purpose - to know God. Matthew 6:20 says~
Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Growing in the knowledge of God for no other reason other than love and desire brings great rewards. This season can bring the greatest opportunity for growth, both spiritually and storing up treasures in heaven because of the extra time we have. Or we can take up scrapbooking.
I will end this season and series with this. One of the greatest blessings in life is to experience the goodness of God, and to finish our life with no regrets. Not that we didn’t have regrets, but because of our love and desire for God, He worked them (all things) for good (Romans 8:28). And in that, look back on the hand God played in our life and the purpose for which He used us.
It’s your life, and how you finish is your choice. My prayer for you is to choose wisely and finish well.
