“Even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” {Isaiah 46:4}
In the past, I’ve heard people say that when you enter your 60s, you begin to experience many noticeable changes. I couldn’t imagine that things would be that different, but I am finding that it is actually true! As I have entered my 60s, I have noticed a shift taking place. Everything is changing! My physical, mental, and emotional capacity has changed. Many of my desires have changed. I’ve become quieter, more sober-minded, and more accepting of who I am and what God is doing in me as I grow older.
However, the truth is that this process isn’t unique to people in their 60s. All of us—whether we’re 25, 40, 60, or 80—are aging, changing, and being shaped by God through every stage of life. Aging is not something that suddenly begins when we hit a certain birthday. It is a lifelong unfolding. We are all moving through seasons that stretch us, soften us, and humble us. Young adults feel it as they step into responsibility. Parents feel it as they juggle more than they ever thought they could. Middle-aged adults feel it as life shifts and priorities rearrange. Those in later years often think of it as their bodies slow down, but their perspective widens.
The world teaches us to fight aging—to rewind it, erase it, and hide it. And honestly, I am often tempted to give in and do what it takes to try to slow it down or avoid “looking old.” But deep down, we all know that no amount of Botox, fillers, lotions, or supplements can stop the movement of time. And even if they could delay the appearance of aging, they can’t change the reality that we are all becoming someone new with each passing year.
So what are we to do? Aging – at any stage – can feel unsettling or even frightening if we don’t learn to view it through the lens of Scripture.
What does the Bible say about growing older? How can we remain content as God transforms us – day by day, season by season? How do we embrace the reality that aging is not just about getting old, but about growing in Christ?
Scripture invites us to embrace aging, rather than seeing it as decline. Aging is not an enemy—it is a gift. It is a holy process God walks us through, shaping us for deeper faith, greater compassion, and a clearer, more anchored hope in Him.
Here are 10 Bible-centered principles to help us, no matter our age, accept the aging process with peace, purpose, and grace:
1. Recognize the Blessings of Aging
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” {Proverbs 16:31}
Instead of mourning what we’ve lost, we can thank God for what we’ve gained. With time comes perspective, wisdom, and a deeper understanding of God’s faithfulness. Rather than focusing on what our bodies can no longer do, or how they are changing, we can thank him for what we can still do. And we can praise God for what He has taught us and how He has shaped us.
2. Practice Surrender Instead of Self-Acceptance
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart… In all your ways acknowledge Him.”
The world preaches “self-acceptance.” Scripture teaches something deeper: God-trusting surrender. There are things we cannot change, such as changes in health, energy, and appearance. But surrendering them to the Lord brings more peace than fighting them ever will.
We can rest in the truth that we are still held, loved, and valuable.
3. Grow in What God Still Has for You
“They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.” {Psalm 92:14}
Aging is not stagnation; it is a process of growth. God does not stop growing His people at a certain age. We can use the days we are given to grow in our prayer life, study Scripture, and ask God to help us make him known to those around us.
Write. Mentor. Serve. Ask God how He wants you to keep bearing fruit now?
4. Value Your Inner Life More Than Your Reflection
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” {2 Corinthians 4:16}
While the outer body weakens, something far more critical is strengthening. Our most extraordinary beauty is not in our face or body, but in the transforming work of Christ in our hearts. Our age tells a story of God’s sustaining grace.
5. Replace Harsh Self-Talk with God’s Truth
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” {Romans 8:1}
How we speak to ourselves matters, and God is not unkind with His words toward us. When the inner voice becomes critical, or we become discouraged by the physical changes that we see, we can answer it with Scripture: “I am STILL fearfully and wonderfully made. I am God’s workmanship. I am deeply loved.”
6. Refuse to Let Culture Define Your Worth
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” {Proverbs 31:30}
The world worships youth. God honors faithfulness. When we spend our time focused on God and His Word, we lessen the influence of social media and culture by fixing our eyes on Christ instead. Comparison steals joy. Gratitude restores it.
7. Follow Godly Examples – Not Cultural Influencers
“Remember your leaders… consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” {Hebrews 13:7}
We should strive to surround ourselves with people who embody spiritual maturity, rather than just external beauty or success. We should allow mature saints, faithful mentors, and godly voices to guide our perspective, not the filtered perfection of social media.
8. Steward Your Body, Mind, and Soul
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” 1 Corinthians 6:19
Aging can bring new limitations, but it also brings new opportunities to trust God. We can explore new ways to care for the body God has given us, even if we aren’t as capable as we were when we were younger. We can begin to view our growing limitations as those things that God is using to teach us to depend on Him more.
Our bodies are a temple. We can care for our health with wisdom and balance, not vanity or fear. We can set a goal to move our bodies, nourish them well, rest when needed, pray over our limitations, and trust that our value is not measured by physical ability.
9. Dedicate This Season to God’s Purposes
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” {Philippians 3:14}
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” {Psalm 90:12}
God often does His deepest work through older saints. Moses was 80 when God sent him to Pharaoh. Anna worshiped in the temple as an elderly widow. Caleb was 85 and still claiming God’s promises. We can ask the Lord how He wants to use us for his purposes and influence.
The later years are not about endless leisure or self-comfort; they are about faithful stewardship. Ask God how you can use your time for God’s glory and others’ good. That might look like mentoring younger believers, serving in your church, or praying regularly for family and community.
10. Celebrate the Timeless Qualities God Has Built in You
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree… they still bear fruit in old age.”
Some things don’t fade with age: kindness, humor, wisdom, leadership, compassion. These are not leftovers of our younger years. They are evidence of God’s ongoing work. We can use them, share them, and give God glory through them.
I desperately want to remind myself of all these things so that I can glorify God with the years I am given. I want to remember that aging is not a slow fading, it is a slow ripening, preparing us for eternal glory.
Won’t you join me?
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” {2 Corinthians 4:18}
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