Seems recently (especially) I have to keep reminding myself that my useful days are really not over - that there's still something in me that may be influential for some poor soul out there. Yes, I've been reminded of Sarah over and over again - too many times for comfort. But then this morning I was reminded of Elizabeth. You remember her - the one Mary went to after the angel told her she would become pregnant with Jesus.
Yes, a sixty-something woman who's expecting a child today (God forbid!) would probably be on the fast track into The Guinness Book of Records, but there is also the reality that people are quick to minimize a woman "of advanced age" and assume that her best, most productive, most impactful years are behind her - that she couldn't possibly birth anything new. Here's the bigger travesty: women buy into those lies and believe them. So let me just jump up on my soapbox, clear my throat and say something really loudly: Elizabeth's life is a beautiful reminder that God continues to do new things in and through us no matter what our age happens to be.
Don't miss this either: the calling on Elizabeth's life (in what we might call her golden years) was no small thing (not that there are any small callings, but Elizabeth's was certainly a visible one). After all, she was going to be the mother of John the Baptist. She was going to be responsible for raising and teaching the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
And then when Mary showed up, Elizabeth confirmed her pregnancy. In fact, she confirmed that Mary was "the mother of my Lord," so Elizabeth was the first human in the New Testament to speak not only of Mary's calling--but Jesus', too!
Elizabeth had an enormous influence on her young cousin and the body of Christ. So when I read Luke 1:45-45 and am reminded of Elizabeth's strong words of encouragement to Mary, I can't help but wonder, What if Elizabeth had decided that her Kingdom usefulness was over? What if she had decided that she was fed up with whatever was going on at the temple, crossed her arms, and said "I'm over it. I'm out of here." What if she had looked at Mary and thought, "Well, I could bless her--but NAH"?
There are countless number of ways we can get burned out and worn down, right? And let me just be clear: if we're really worn down and worn out, then, by all means, we need to rest. We're not doing anybody any favors when we're trying to serve out of a reserve tank that's already empty. (Note to self-quit preaching to me.)
But if, like me, you're convinced yourself you aren't needed anymore, that your best days are behind you, that you're not "relevant" enough, not anointed enough to serve the body of Christ--or, heaven forbid, your family--let me just say this: Stop it. Right now. STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Don't you dare discount your importance, your influence or your calling.
And just to clarify, I am EXTREMELY aware that this kind of doubt can creep up on us at any age. It seems to fire up most often in my life when I'm in the middle of transition--moving from a comfortable place to one that is so not comfortable - like moving from one stage of motherhood to something new. But here's the thing - we have to stay in it. We can't just give up and hang it up because for whatever reason we are fed ALL THE WAY up or just scared to death. We can't forget there is somebody behind us and ahead of us who need us to stay in it.
There are those in your church that need you to stay in it.
There are those in your family who needs you to stay in it.
There are those you work with that need you to stay in it.
So you stay in it, do you hear me? Hey, you, yes you!
YOU. STAY. IN. IT.
You are uniquely built to impact others in ways you cannot even imagine. You are the only "you" there is. No one else on earth has your wisdom (don't make faces at me now), your experiences and your perspective. So when you're tempted to give up, back down or back off ... just remember this: Elizabeth was in her golden years--but she was about to birth a whole new thing! YOU stay IN it!
Yes, a sixty-something woman who's expecting a child today (God forbid!) would probably be on the fast track into The Guinness Book of Records, but there is also the reality that people are quick to minimize a woman "of advanced age" and assume that her best, most productive, most impactful years are behind her - that she couldn't possibly birth anything new. Here's the bigger travesty: women buy into those lies and believe them. So let me just jump up on my soapbox, clear my throat and say something really loudly: Elizabeth's life is a beautiful reminder that God continues to do new things in and through us no matter what our age happens to be.
Don't miss this either: the calling on Elizabeth's life (in what we might call her golden years) was no small thing (not that there are any small callings, but Elizabeth's was certainly a visible one). After all, she was going to be the mother of John the Baptist. She was going to be responsible for raising and teaching the forerunner of Jesus Christ.
And then when Mary showed up, Elizabeth confirmed her pregnancy. In fact, she confirmed that Mary was "the mother of my Lord," so Elizabeth was the first human in the New Testament to speak not only of Mary's calling--but Jesus', too!
Elizabeth had an enormous influence on her young cousin and the body of Christ. So when I read Luke 1:45-45 and am reminded of Elizabeth's strong words of encouragement to Mary, I can't help but wonder, What if Elizabeth had decided that her Kingdom usefulness was over? What if she had decided that she was fed up with whatever was going on at the temple, crossed her arms, and said "I'm over it. I'm out of here." What if she had looked at Mary and thought, "Well, I could bless her--but NAH"?
There are countless number of ways we can get burned out and worn down, right? And let me just be clear: if we're really worn down and worn out, then, by all means, we need to rest. We're not doing anybody any favors when we're trying to serve out of a reserve tank that's already empty. (Note to self-quit preaching to me.)
But if, like me, you're convinced yourself you aren't needed anymore, that your best days are behind you, that you're not "relevant" enough, not anointed enough to serve the body of Christ--or, heaven forbid, your family--let me just say this: Stop it. Right now. STOP IT RIGHT NOW. Don't you dare discount your importance, your influence or your calling.
And just to clarify, I am EXTREMELY aware that this kind of doubt can creep up on us at any age. It seems to fire up most often in my life when I'm in the middle of transition--moving from a comfortable place to one that is so not comfortable - like moving from one stage of motherhood to something new. But here's the thing - we have to stay in it. We can't just give up and hang it up because for whatever reason we are fed ALL THE WAY up or just scared to death. We can't forget there is somebody behind us and ahead of us who need us to stay in it.
There are those in your church that need you to stay in it.
There are those in your family who needs you to stay in it.
There are those you work with that need you to stay in it.
So you stay in it, do you hear me? Hey, you, yes you!
YOU. STAY. IN. IT.
You are uniquely built to impact others in ways you cannot even imagine. You are the only "you" there is. No one else on earth has your wisdom (don't make faces at me now), your experiences and your perspective. So when you're tempted to give up, back down or back off ... just remember this: Elizabeth was in her golden years--but she was about to birth a whole new thing! YOU stay IN it!
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