Seven Resolutions for Aging and Dying Well

After just turning 60 last month, the Lord reminds me to pray Psalm 90 verse 12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Getting older is not easy and I have seen many pass this year, those in their 80’s as well as many in their 60’s. In the last few months, two friends I played hockey with at D.U. passed away at age 61. Clearly, getting older is a privilege not afforded to many.

I am determined to make this last age, the third age as my Latin friends say, the best. There is a freedom unparalleled in earlier life! These words of John Piper are also most encouraging.

Strength for Aging and Dying

At the beginning of life and for the first few decades a person needs great energy to be a success. Youth is made for the young. The demands in sports and the early demands of marriage and parenting and homemaking call for enormous energy.

At the other end of life, when we are not bringing people into the world, but preparing to leave, energy is not the key to success. The day will come when you can’t even get out of bed. And at that moment you can be a success. The key to getting old and dying well is God’s word and God’s grace.

Seven Resolutions for Aging and Dying

So I would like to take the wisdom and grace of Psalm 71 – the prayer of an aging man – and give it to you in seven very brief exhortations. And since I am one of these old men now, instead of saying you, I am going to say us. And instead of saying, You do, I’m going to say, Let’s do.

We could call these seven resolutions from God’s word and God’s grace for aging and getting ready to meet Jesus. Each of them is based on Psalm 71.

• Let’s resolve to take refuge in God rather than taking offense at our troubles.

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge. (Psalm 46:1).

We have a refuge from every storm and every enemy. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1).

When we forget that we are safe in God, we start to take offense at our troubles. I don’t want to get old complaining.

• Let’s resolve to remember with wonder and thanks the thousands of times we have leaned on God since our youth.

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth, upon you I have learned from before my birth. (Psalm 71:5-6).

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

(Psalm 71:17).

God’s grace is like a river that flows out of the future of God’s promises every day of our lives and spills over the waterfall of the present moment of fulfillment and gathers in an ever-growing reservoir of past grace.

And as we look back we should be filled with thankfulness. And as we look forward that thankfulness should turn in mighty hope.

• Let’s resolve to speak to God more and more about all his greatness, until there is no room left in our mouths for murmuring.

My praise is continually of you. (Psalm 71:6).

I will praise you more and more. (Psalm 71:14).

The longer we live, the more we should praise. Isn’t that amazing? We are so prone to think of our waning powers and be discouraged. But for God’s children the day is getting brighter and brighter. If we could only keep this before us, we would praise him more and more. “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glorythat is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18).

• Let’s resolve to be people of rugged, undefeatable hope and not give in to despair, even in the nursing home, and even if we outlive all our friends.

I will hope continually. (Psalm 71:14).

This will be a great battle. It will be for us. We will get to the point where we feel useless and too weak to do any good. And the temptation to despair will be huge. But this old man said, “I will hope continually.” And Peter said, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13).

Jesus commanded us: Always pray and do not lose heart (see Luke 18:1).

And Paul knew exactly what the danger of aging is: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

• Let’s resolve to go out of our way to find people to tell about God’s wonderful acts of salvation that never run out because they are innumerable.

My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. (Psalm 71:15).

I proclaim your might to another generation. (Psalm 71:18).

Nothing is more energizing than speaking of God’s wonders to someone else.

• Let’s resolve to remember that there are great things about God above my imagination, and soon enough, we will know these too.

There will always be things that are over our heads. We are not God. So let’s let God be God and wait patiently for the day when we will know even as we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:12).

• Finally, let’s resolve to resist all stuffy stereotypes of old people, and play and sing and shout with joy whether we look dignified or not.

This old man said, I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you. (Psalm 71:22-23).

John Piper, Pastor and Chancellor of Bethlehem College Seminary, teacher of desiringGod.org.

May you look to the Lord for your hope and trust how much he loves you.

Blessings,

Cam