Mother, Grandmother, Friend. It’s time to ARISE in the fullness of who you are in Jesus–and let your only identity be in him. For truly he is your only source, your only way, your only life. We cannot afford to let anything else take his place in our hearts or lives. Our lives must be fully devoted to him, his purpose and agenda and his kingdom.
Friends, this message is burning in my heart. It burns with urgency, but also with the burden of what I need to tell you. And probably, even a bit of fear at how unpopular this message may be with some of you. There is a misconception out there that has affected many women over 50, those of us who have “devoted our lives” to our kids and families and now grandkids. Many of us have drifted into a posture of going with the flow, focusing on our families and accepting a tame version of what the rest of our lives will look like. We find great joy and satisfaction in our family relationships, so much so, that our spiritual lives, divine destinies and personal dreams have become less of a priority.
This is said with so much love and so much grace, and truthfully, a bit of shame as I see myself in these words. Jesus has an incredible, abundant life for each of us, and yet, many of us may be settling for less than his best for a temporal reward, a personal or even emotional benefit.
I really hate having to write these words. Really I do friend. And yet, I’ve not heard anyone else declare this to women of a certain age! No in fact, this misconception is heartily endorsed and reinforced by most of the church, the men in our lives and even our children. As if, once I hit 50, my highest goal and deepest satisfaction would come from my relationship with my grandkids. You know the drill: grammy days, crafts and cookie baking, vacations with family, pouring all our emotional and even physical energy into creating memorable family moments.
Are any of these things wrong? Of course not! I love them, too. But if we are replacing the call of God with the call of family, then we need to stop for a minute. God has a vision for your life, friend. He has a heavenly purpose and a supernatural agenda for you. He has the most amazing plans for the rest of your life, that truthfully, may be more powerful and significant that anything you’ve experienced before. I implore you, do not buy into the lie that midlife is made for family, grandkids and memories ONLY. YOU have a unique part to play in raising up a new generation into their identity in Christ and the fullness of their spiritual inheritance. Does that include your grandkids? It does! But God has a much broader brush with which to paint the rest of your earthly life. Please don’t accept less. Please don’t set aside your dreams and ministry for the sake of your family.
Some of you may be saying, “My family is my ministry.” Well, that would be fine except for what Jesus said in Matthew 10: Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. And whoever comes to me must follow in my steps and be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he is not worthy of me. Those who cling to their lives will give up true life. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!
Now, I’m sure for some of you, you are obeying God and serving your family in a very significant way. Perhaps he asked you to support a son or daughter and their family due to divorce or other domestic situations or to take in your grandkids for some reason. These are extenuating circumstances and not really what I’m talking about. I am really talking to those of us for whom God has a different agenda, a ministry and a call that is set outside our family. Those of us who have dreams burning in our heart that we have set aside because it’s too scary, we feel unqualified or too old, or honestly, who didn’t realize Jesus wanted to use midlife women to build his kingdom. I’m here to tell you, friend, he does. God is calling us to ARISE and become a powerful force for change in the earth and in the kingdom.
The one I love calls to me: Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. Come away with me! I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one. The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone. The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers.The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth. Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you? The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting forth. The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere. The fragrance of their flowers whispers, “There is change in the air.” Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place. For now is the time to arise and come away with me. (Song of Songs 2:10-13)