“…in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15b NIV
I have had sixty plus years to practice drawing near to God and trusting him with my life. This is a spiritual exercise that I will continue to practice every day as long as I live. It seems to me that I have spent a good bit of time trying to have every area of my life perfect. I have come to understand that this deep longing within me is my heart’s effort to get back to the perfection of Eden. Back to the perfect state that God originally purposed for my life.
One of my favorite times of the day is the very early morning. I love to go out on my back porch with its peaceful view of our wooded back yard. For me this is a place of serenity and solitude. I love hearing the birds wake up and sing praises to their creator. During this time it is just Jesus and me as the light of day dawns and the day begins. It is in moments like this that God has taught me about “graying with grace” and what is necessary for getting back to the perfection of Eden. It is in this place that I meet with Jesus in the garden of my heart.
When do you feel close to God? Is it at church? Is it only in your times of need? Is it on a morning walk or run? Do you feel close to God as you marvel at his creation? Is it in the glory of the sunrise or the splendor of a magnificent sunset? Is it at the beach or under a star studded sky that boasts the breathtaking full moon? Is it through music? Do you feel close to God in simple prayer and in reading his Word? Or do you receive your strength in quietness and trust?
Oh how God loves you and me! He tenderly calls each of us to draw near to him so that he can draw near to us.
I do not mourn the days of my youth, but rather I embrace graying with God’s grace in my life. I have experienced so many more blessings then a person in their twenties because I have had a life time to collect them. I have the awesome privilege of sharing my faith with my grandchildren. I now have more opportunities to choose simplicity. I have the peace of knowing that the best for my life is yet to come. I have more time to share my gifts, talents, and resources with others. I have a faith that allows me to know that beyond all doubt, God is in control! I have had years to reflect on God’s faithfulness to me and all those I love. I am comforted when I realize that God loves those I love more than I do.
Although I love this life and my family, I do know that with each day that goes by God brings me one day closer to my eternal home in heaven. Aging to me in not painful, it is graying with his grace. It is embracing God’s promise,“…in quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15b NIV As long as God gives me breath I will continue to trust him as I endeavor to quietly walk toward him amazed by his love for you and me.
By Paula Hoover The Garden of My Heart
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Stacey says
What beautiful testimony of truly growing with Jesus! I love that you have had a life time to collect blessings! And that you have done that one morning at a time with Jesus. It is so sweet how He waits for us each morning to meet Him in that special place!
Thank you for the encouragement today. I have been so blessed!
Paula says
It truly is about walking with Jesus everyday. So happy that you have been encouraged and blessed today.
April says
beautiful post. i love thinking about the ways I feel closest to God. Thank you for this post and may God bless you today!!
Paula says
It is amazing that God speaks uniquely to each of us in oh… so many ways!
Kat @ Inspired To Action says
Just lovely…
Thank you SOOO much for sharing your wisdom and insight.
Jesse says
Thanks for this perspective Paula!
I love Jesus so much right now in my mid 20s and it grows with each day.
I can’t wait to experience decades more of life with him.
Heather says
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. We have so much to learn from your generation. May God bless and keep you today and everyday.
Amy says
Very inspiring! You go girl!!!
Bev McDougal says
As a person in my mid 50’s, I often feel the tension between the excitement of youth and the challenges of maturity. I love the wisdom the Lord has grown in me through the life experiences He has planned for my life, and really long to gray gracefully-not bitter or complaining, but still finding each day as a gift.
Paula says
You are so right every day is a gift from God. We need to live all of our days well.
Judy says
Thank you. Something I needed to hear. 🙂
Anonymous says
We all need to be reminded that if God allows us to live long enough to gray we are indeed blessed.
Amy Sullivan says
Paula,
I loved your line about “not mourning days of youth, but rather embracing graying…”. Yes! What an amazing way to look at life.
Dionna says
What a beautiful perspective.
carolyn says
This is great, Paula! I like the line, “He tenderly calls each of us…” I remember as a child, when I had been foolish, the correction was often more meaningful and created more desire to please the person who was “tender”. It’s good to be reminded that Christ is tenderly calling us to draw near to Him.
Rosemary says
Younger women can learn from your wisdom Paula and look forward to aging with grace. Taking time to be alone with God is hard but it is so necessary to grow old gracefully. Thanks for your beautiful way of expressing God’s love for us.
Linda says
What a delight to meet you here Paula. We are the same age, and I feel all the things you’ve written so sweetly about. This is a wonderful season of life. We are so blessed to have had a lifetime of knowing the Lord and the peace and joy that come from knowing where our hope is.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
Anonymous says
Linda – Thanks for sharing your kind comments. It’s always nice to have a sister on board!
Karen Z says
Paula:
As i try, yet another, wrinkle cream, color my gray hair and wish for my younger figure I am neglecting the thankfulness to God that I have lived this long. Dyrung my life, I have lost everything and seen God restore it all. WhenI have neglected to plan, I’ve seen God provide. What a privilege to walk with him through the years. I look forward to the rest of our walk! Thank you for your perspective!
Anonymous says
Karen – Those times are hard but it is the good stuff that when looking back we know we are safe because we are wrapped in the arms of God’s faithfulness.
Holley Gerth says
Thank you for the beautiful perspective, Paula. It made me think of one of my favorite verses in Proverbs that talks about how the light of the righteous shines ever brighter until the perfect day. Shine on, girl! 🙂
Beth Werner Lee says
I printed this out so I could hang it on my fridge, is that okay?
Lately I decided to let my gray hair show. It’s growing out and the brown dyed hair is very obvious. But I quote to myself from time to time from Keats: “beauty is truth, truth is beauty.” I think everything you’ve said is where I am aiming, and I’m so thankful to have it said, to print it out and place it for a focus. God bless you!
Paula says
Beth – God’s Word reminds us that real beauty comes from within! 🙂
Linda Thomas says
Hooray! Words from a woman my age! Paula, thank you for your words and thoughts. I was amazed at how much you and I have in common. Like you, I love to get up early in the morning and spend a long time visiting with God, and your entire 5th paragraph (“I do not mourn the days of my youth….”) could have been written by me! Thank you for your encouragement and ministry to me and all these other ladies.
Graying alongside you,
Linda
Paula says
Thank you for your kind words. Comments from others are always so encouraging!
Sherrey Meyer says
Paula, I enjoyed this post so much! Being on the same side of “graying” as you and being a lover of early mornings and wooded backyards, it really spoke to me. Thank you for the gift God has given you and for sharing it so willingly with others.
Sherrey
Janet Belzer says
I too am on the Graying side 57 years old, Thank you for your beautiful words that minister to us all and we can be Proud to be” Seasoned” Woman of Christ through this
Special Journey in Our Lives and to hold Our Younger Daughters in Christ Close to
our Hearts, God Bless you Paula always,
Jan Belzer Schaumburg,Illinois