Psalm 71:5-9 says, "O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb, you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. And now, in my old age, don't set me aside. Don't abandon me when my strength is failing." We don't know who wrote Psalm 71 because it doesn't say who wrote it, but many believed that David wrote this psalm. Regardless of who wrote it, the psalmist acknowledged that God knew him from birth, and now that he was old, he prayed that God would not abandon him, for his strength was failing. From our first existence in our mother's womb to our old age, God remains the same. He has been faithful to take care of us, even when we are not aware of it. God has been watching over us since we were children. He has been using other people to let us know about Himself so that we may believe and walk in His ways. Yet, some of us rejected him when we were young, but when we got older, our eyes were opened, and we believed in Him.
We praise our God because we have experienced His goodness. He has been faithful to forgive and restore us when we sin, to provide everything that we need, and to comfort us when we are afraid, and these are the reasons we praise and adore Him. In our old age, He will never forsake us, even when this world looks down on us and forgets us. One of the neglected people groups is the elderly. Many of them live in retirement facilities and assisted living, where they have been forgotten. However, we will never be alone because God will always be with us. The God who loved us when we were in conception to our last breath in this world is always right beside us, comforting us. It is amazing how God is witnessing the progression of our age. No matter what we have done, God's grace is more than sufficient to cover all of our sins.
Getting into old age is inevitable, but we should not dread it because it is part of life. We are not meant to live on this earth forever. Our final destination is to be with Him in Heaven for eternity. But as we wait on that day, God is faithful to take care of us.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) How has God been faithful to you? Why should I not worry about getting old? Where is my final destination?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for always being with me, even when I was in my mother's womb. You have been faithful in taking care of me. I praise you and glorify your name, for you have been good to me. Please help me to continue to trust in you and walk in your way until I'm with you in Heaven for eternity. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.