Aging comes with many challenges. Most of us have already dealt with midlife crises, but if you consider yourself a member of the growing number in their fourth quarter of life, this discussion could be quite meaningful.
I won’t bother you with my personal challenges, yet what I have not experienced many of my personal acquaintances have.
So buckle up and hang on tightly. Your fourth quarter can be quite eventful and filled with surprises.
Yes, many of you will be fully retired and may consider what lies ahead to hold a quiet and leisurely future.
Then again, that fourth quarter may well be filled with more crises than you ever imagined.
Here’s a short list of what we all might face:
- The unexpected loss of a loved one — a spouse, a sibling, perhaps even a child
- The sudden loss of a close long-time friend or a past business associate
- Often, we face multiple health issues that may be life-shortening
- Perhaps financial difficulties personal or within our extended families
- Quite frequently, addictions that deeply affect relationships with our adult children and grandchildren
That list should suffice. So much for the idea of retirement bliss. Our final quarter of life may well be the most challenging we will face.
Fortunately, we don’t have to face it alone. Having an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father can be a life saver, literally.
Having like-minded Christian friends near can also greatly assist in our bouncing back from personal setbacks.
With the proper outlook, we can come to better understand those crises and circumstances that God has gently placed in our path as personal growth opportunities as we gradually draw nearer to Him during our late-in-life years.
How well we handle those circumstances will ultimately affect many who observe how we face our eventual demise.
It’s our opportunity to follow the Apostle Paul’s example, from Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Many years back, I did an extensive study of the Book of Job. What I gleaned from that study is this: God allows us to go through grave circumstances to bless us.
I know I’ve been immensely strengthened through the many trials He continues to allow in my life. And I’m glad for each trial I face, keeping in mind Job 13:15: “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.”
For those of us blessed with long life, even though we may suffer in those days, we are truly blessed and must give thanks to our Lord for trusting us as we live out our lives for His glory!