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“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”   Psalm 71:18 (NIV)

You’ll probably agree that there are junctures in each person’s life where they are at a crossroads. I always thought the crossroads syndrome was a problem for the young, but I’m finding that this can happen at any age.

I’ve been active in the business community for many years, but my last client is closing his doors this week. I’m at the age where outside employment isn’t practical. Like many people transitioning to unemployment, I am tempted to think I have lost my usefulness. So here I am at the crossroads. What do I do now?

Since I am of retirement age, you may wonder what my problem is. Isn’t this stage of life referred to as the “Golden Years?” Here’s a little-known secret: retirement is highly over-rated. People always need to be useful.

Years ago, my grandfather passed away, leaving Grandma to live alone at the age of eighty-five, unable to get to church or the grocery without help, unable to tell children’s stories as she had for years in Sunday School. She believed no one needed her.

When she complained of being useless, I was surprised, being as young as I was back then. I said, “Grandma, now you have the luxury of time. You can pray. Pray for the young mothers so distracted by their children’s demands that they can’t carve out uninterrupted time to pray. Pray for us, your family. Pray for your church and our elected leaders. Pray for world events.”

She looked at me curiously as I made my suggestions. I hope she thought about that and took action. She was a wonderful, godly lady. She lived alone and took care of herself until she was ninety-five. So let me take my own advice. Let me pray in these later years. And like the psalmist, let me continue to proclaim His might. I may have a broad audience if I write, or it may be only one person at a time. Whoever it is, let me proclaim His might to the generation that follows me and His power to all those who come. Then I will never need to fear being useless.

“Dear Father, thank You for giving us access to You through prayer and thank You that we can be effective as praying people of any age. Teach us to pray more faithfully and proclaim your power to the generation behind us.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams (www.cheriehardbridgewilliams.com)
TRBC Women’s Life