The Privilege of Aging: Why Growing Older is a Gift, Not a Curse

Yesterday was my birthday. Birthdays change as you get older. They don’t carry the same excitement they did when you were a kid. For me, they were always celebrated - sometimes with a party, sometimes with a trip - but always with anticipation.

But as I have gotten older, as I’m sure it does with most people, it has begun to make me more reflective of my life and the gift that aging truly is. 

My husband seemed to dread turning thirty. He looked at it as a sort of milestone where he should be doing certain things by that point or should have accomplished certain things by that point and there was no joy in it.

I’m sure many people get caught in that trap. 

“I should be making ____ amount of money by now.”

“I should be living in my own house by now.”

“I should be married by now.”

“I should have kids by now.”

“I should have my dream job by now.”

"I should have more saved for retirement by now."

"I should be happier by now."

"I should have a better relationship with my family by now."

"I should be healthier by now."

"My marriage should be better by now."

It’s easy to get caught in that trap. Aging can be a reminder of our limited time to get things done. But aging isn’t meant to be a scoreboard - it’s a story unfolding. And every year added is another chapter written by grace.

As I was reflecting on my own birthday I couldn’t help but think how thankful I was to even be able to celebrate another birthday. What a privilege it is to get older! 

Despite a culture that is obsessed with being young, staying young, looking young and getting more done when you are young, getting older is a gift I realized I shouldn’t be afraid of but should embrace. Not everyone gets that privilege. 

Something I didn’t realize until recently is that the Bible actually talks about aging - and in a very positive light.  

Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” 

★ Getting older is an honor! Especially when walking with God. It’s not something to be ashamed of. 

Job 12:12 says, “Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”

★ Wisdom comes with age! If you’ve ever prayed for wisdom, I think simply getting older is an answer to that prayer!

Psalm 92:12-14 says, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree…they will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.” 

★ Usefulness does not end with the loss of your youth. If anything you become more useful as you age (while walking with the Lord) and you become more like Christ. God often uses us more as we age, not less.

Isaiah 46:4 says, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

★ God’s care for us doesn’t fade with time. Our lives matter from the moment we are conceived to our final breath on earth.  

God views aging as something sacred and valuable. Aging gives you more time to love, to influence, to mother, to mentor. It allows you to grow deeper in your faith, in compassion, in patience and in wisdom. 

So, if you’re facing a birthday with dread or feeling like you’re behind, take a deep breath. Look at the years behind you not as wasted time, but as soil - rich with everything God’s been growing in you. And look at the years ahead with hope, because God’s not finished with you yet.