Teach us to number our days

‘We make ourselves old by keeping tally of the years. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are? Properly, a man is as old as he feels.’

(The origins of the quote are uncertain, though it’s possibly from Rev Clarence H Wilson, in a 1927 sermon.)

Recently, we had the joy of welcoming a couple to our UK office in Folkestone who have just begun volunteering with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Their story is one of those quiet, powerful reminders that God is always at work — often in the most unexpected ways.

Having recently retired to Norfolk from careers in IT project management and communications, the two were settling into what many would consider a time to slow down. But a chance encounter with an MAF staff member — home from Indonesia — sparked something new.

At ages 68 and 74, they are now preparing for a short-term overseas adventure to help support the project management of a new MAF initiative.

As we listened to their story, we were struck by their humility and clarity of purpose.

‘God has blessed us so richly,’ they said. ‘Why wouldn’t we want to put this blessing in God’s hands and let Him use us?’

Their words echo a profound truth — God is not finished with us when a life stage ends. He’s not finished with us when we feel tired or unsure. He’s looking for hearts that are available.

We live in a culture that often equates value with youth. The western world tends to prize energy, appearance and innovation — qualities often associated with the young. But God’s Kingdom operates on a totally different economy.

‘People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart’ (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT).

God doesn’t measure our usefulness by our age or academic achievements, He looks at our heart posture.

God’s plans are lifelong

When the Israelites were in exile in Babylon, they must have felt forgotten, displaced and uncertain about the future.

But God sent them a message of hope:

‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”’ (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).

This promise wasn’t just for the young or the strong in Babylon. It was for all God’s people there. God’s plans don’t expire when we reach a certain age. His calling is not confined to a few decades of our lives. He has a purpose for every season.

God, it seems, is no respecter of age — with Scripture filled with stories of people who were called later in life, along with those who were called when they were very young, and everywhere in between.

• Noah was more than 500 years old when he began building the ark (Genesis 5:32).
• Abraham was 75 when God called him to leave his homeland and promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:4).
• Moses was over 80 when he led the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 7:7).
• Anna, the prophetess, was ‘very old’ when she recognised the infant Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 2:36-38).

Samuel, on the other hand, was a boy when God called him (1 Samuel 3), and Mary a young woman who was appointed by God to carry the Saviour of the world. It’s a reminder that God is looking for those whose hearts are turned towards Him and His purposes on earth. It’s not about being the most qualified or the most energetic. It’s about being available.

The couple who visited us in Folkestone didn’t have a grand plan. They simply responded to a divine nudge. Their hearts and schedules were open to God.

Psalm 90:12, ‘Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom’ reminds us to live with an awareness of the fleeting nature of time, and a recognition that our time is a gift.

Each day is an opportunity to say, ‘Here I am, send me’.

Don’t get me wrong, this doesn’t necessarily mean going to the other side of the world. It may just mean walking across the street to a neighbour or volunteering at the local soup kitchen.

It may mean getting on your knees daily in prayer for a person God has placed on your heart.

Response

• Have you ever felt like your season of usefulness to God has passed? What might He be inviting you into now?
• What gifts or experiences could you offer to God in this season of your life?
• How can you encourage others — young or old — to remain open to God’s calling?