Why Does Faith Become More Important as We Get Older?
As Life Changes, Faith Can Give Us Perspective, Strength, Hope and a Deeper Sense of Purpose.
HEALTHWEALTHINCOMEMONEYFINANCESLIFE AFTER 50FAITHPURPOSEINNER STRENGTH
Coach Marcus Jones
10/1/202617 min read
Why Does Faith Become More Important as We Get Older?
As Life Changes, Faith Can Give Us Perspective, Strength, Hope and a Deeper Sense of Purpose.
By Coach Marcus Jones
When you're young, it's easy to believe you have:
Plenty of time.
Time to:
Build the career.
Make money.
Raise the family.
Buy the house.
Travel.
Chase goals.
Fix mistakes.
Figure everything out.
Then something begins to change.
You get older.
You attend more:
Funerals.
You watch your parents age.
Your children become:
Adults.
Friends experience:
Illness.
Careers change.
Relationships change.
Your body changes.
People you thought would always be around...
aren't.
And eventually you begin asking questions that a:
Paycheck.
Promotion.
House.
Car.
Business.
Vacation.
Or bank account
cannot completely answer.
Questions like:
“WHAT REALLY MATTERS?”
“WHY AM I HERE?”
“WHAT AM I DOING WITH THE TIME I HAVE LEFT?”
“HOW DO I HANDLE WHAT I CAN'T CONTROL?”
“WHAT KIND OF LEGACY AM I LEAVING?”
And for many people, those questions bring them back to:
FAITH.
For me as a Christian, faith isn't something I want reserved only for:
Sunday morning.
Emergencies.
Funerals.
Or moments when everything has gone:
Wrong.
Faith is the:
FOUNDATION.
And as I've gotten older, I've come to appreciate that foundation even:
More.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Why faith may take on deeper meaning as we age
Why aging can change our priorities
Why success cannot answer every question
How faith can provide perspective during uncertainty
Why faith doesn't mean pretending everything is okay
How faith can help us face things we cannot control
Why loss can challenge faith
How prayer fits into difficult seasons
Why gratitude becomes important
How faith and community can work together
Why service can become more meaningful after 50
How faith relates to purpose
Why faith should never become an excuse to avoid responsibility
How faith can shape our relationship with money
Why forgiveness matters
How aging can change how we think about legacy
Practical ways to strengthen your faith after 50
QUICK ANSWER: WHY DOES FAITH BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS WE GET OLDER?
For many people, aging brings greater awareness of:
Change.
Loss.
Mortality.
Uncertainty.
Purpose.
Relationships.
Legacy.
And the limits of:
Control.
Faith can provide a framework for understanding those experiences.
For Christians, faith can remind us that our identity isn't ultimately determined by:
Our job.
Income.
Appearance.
Possessions.
Status.
Business success.
Or accomplishments.
It can remind us that life has meaning beyond what we:
Accumulate.
Faith doesn't guarantee that life will become:
Easy.
It doesn't mean:
Nothing bad will happen.
It doesn't eliminate:
Grief.
Fear.
Illness.
Financial problems.
Or uncertainty.
But faith can change how we:
WALK THROUGH THEM.
WHEN YOU'RE YOUNGER, LIFE CAN FEEL LIKE IT'S MOSTLY IN FRONT OF YOU
At:
20...
50 can sound:
Old.
At:
50...
you realize:
It isn't.
But you also begin understanding something differently.
TIME IS NOT UNLIMITED.
That doesn't need to create:
Fear.
It can create:
Clarity.
AGING CAN CHANGE THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK
Earlier in life, the questions may sound like:
What career should I choose?
How much can I earn?
Where should I live?
How big can I build?
What can I accomplish?
Later, you may begin asking:
Did my life matter?
Who did I help?
Was I present for my family?
Did I live according to my values?
Did I use what God gave me well?
What am I leaving behind?
SUCCESS ASKS:
“WHAT DID I ACCOMPLISH?”
Faith may lead us to ask:
“WHO DID I BECOME?”
That's a different:
Scoreboard.
SUCCESS CANNOT ANSWER EVERY QUESTION
I believe in:
Goals.
Achievement.
Business.
Building wealth.
Improving your health.
Creating freedom.
Those things can matter.
But none of them can completely answer:
Why am I here?
How should I respond to suffering?
What happens when someone I love dies?
How should I forgive?
What gives my life meaning?
What happens when my career ends?
Who am I when I can no longer do what I used to do?
SOME QUESTIONS ARE BIGGER THAN SUCCESS
And eventually most of us encounter:
Them.
MONEY IS IMPORTANT — BUT IT HAS LIMITS
Money can help you:
Pay bills.
Buy food.
Travel.
Create options.
Support your family.
Give generously.
Build businesses.
Prepare for retirement.
Access resources.
Those are meaningful benefits.
But money cannot guarantee:
Peace.
Purpose.
Love.
Health.
A strong marriage.
Good relationships.
Another tomorrow.
WEALTH IS A TOOL.
IT IS NOT A GOD.
That's an important distinction.
FAITH CAN HELP PUT SUCCESS IN PERSPECTIVE
There's nothing automatically wrong with wanting:
More.
More health.
More financial security.
More freedom.
More opportunity.
But faith can challenge the question:
“MORE FOR WHAT?”
More money...
For what?
More influence...
For what?
More time...
For what?
More freedom...
For what?
PURPOSE GIVES YOUR RESOURCES DIRECTION
That's where the four areas of Better Living After 50 begin connecting:
FAITH.
Provides the foundation.
HEALTH.
Gives you greater capacity to live and serve.
WEALTH.
Can provide resources and choices.
FREEDOM.
Can give you greater control over how you use your time.
But then comes the deeper question:
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH ALL OF IT?
That's where purpose enters the picture.
FAITH CAN PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE DURING UNCERTAINTY
One of the hardest realities of life is:
You cannot control:
Everything.
You can make:
Plans.
And should.
You can:
Save.
Prepare.
Exercise.
Work.
Build.
Study.
Research.
But even excellent preparation cannot guarantee:
Every outcome.
LIFE WILL SOMETIMES REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT IN CONTROL
A diagnosis.
A phone call.
A job loss.
An accident.
A death.
An economic downturn.
A relationship change.
Something happens that was never on your:
Calendar.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR PLAN ISN'T THE PLAN ANYMORE?
That's where faith can become:
Deeply personal.
PROVERBS 3:5–6 SAYS:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
That doesn't mean:
Don't think.
Don't plan.
Don't ask questions.
Don't seek professional advice.
Don't use wisdom.
It means our own understanding has:
Limits.
FAITH DOES NOT REQUIRE YOU TO KNOW EVERYTHING
Sometimes faith is being able to say:
“I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I'M STILL TRUSTING GOD.”
That's very different from pretending:
Nothing hurts.
FAITH IS NOT DENIAL
This is important.
Some people think being a strong Christian means always saying:
“I'm blessed!”
Even when they're:
Hurting.
Grieving.
Scared.
Angry.
Confused.
THE BIBLE DOESN'T HIDE HUMAN EMOTION
Scripture contains:
Grief.
Fear.
Questions.
Lament.
Anger.
Confusion.
Pain.
FAITH DOESN'T REQUIRE FAKE HAPPINESS
You can:
Trust God
and still:
Cry.
You can:
Pray
and still feel:
Afraid.
You can:
Believe
and still have:
Questions.
PAIN DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN YOUR FAITH IS WEAK
Sometimes pain means:
You're human.
LOSS CAN CHANGE YOUR FAITH
As we get older, most of us experience more:
Loss.
Parents.
Friends.
Family members.
Coworkers.
Pets.
Relationships.
Physical abilities.
Jobs.
Familiar routines.
Sometimes even the identity we once:
Had.
GRIEF CAN ASK HARD QUESTIONS
Why did this happen?
Why now?
Why them?
Why me?
Where was God?
Those aren't always questions with:
Simple answers.
And people going through grief usually don't need:
Cheap slogans.
They need:
Compassion.
Presence.
Time.
Support.
And sometimes:
Professional help.
DON'T USE FAITH TO RUSH SOMEONE'S GRIEF
Telling someone:
“Everything happens for a reason”
may not be what they need to hear while their world has just:
Collapsed.
Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is:
Sit.
Listen.
Pray.
Serve.
Be there.
SOMETIMES PRESENCE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN AN EXPLANATION
That's something age can teach:
You.
PRAYER CAN TAKE ON A DIFFERENT MEANING AS WE AGE
When you're younger, prayer can sometimes sound like:
“God, give me this.”
“Help me accomplish that.”
“Open this door.”
As life matures you, prayer may begin changing.
Maybe it becomes:
“Give me wisdom.”
“Give me peace.”
“Help me forgive.”
“Help me accept what I cannot change.”
“Show me where I can serve.”
“Help me use my time well.”
“Give me strength for today.”
PRAYER CAN SHIFT FROM:
“CHANGE EVERYTHING AROUND ME”
to:
“CHANGE SOMETHING IN ME.”
That's spiritual:
Growth.
PRAYER DOESN'T REPLACE ACTION
This is important.
If you're sick:
Pray.
And seek appropriate medical:
Care.
If you're struggling financially:
Pray.
And look at the:
Numbers.
If your marriage is struggling:
Pray.
And have the:
Conversation.
Seek counseling where appropriate.
If your business isn't working:
Pray.
And evaluate:
Customers.
Expenses.
Sales.
Strategy.
Economics.
PRAYER AND RESPONSIBILITY CAN EXIST TOGETHER
Faith isn't an excuse for avoiding:
Reality.
YOU CAN PRAY AND GO TO THE DOCTOR
You can pray and:
Take prescribed medication.
You can pray and:
Create a budget.
You can pray and:
Go to counseling.
You can pray and:
Work.
You can pray and:
Prepare.
FAITH AND WISDOM ARE NOT ENEMIES
They belong:
Together.
FAITH CAN HELP WHEN YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE OUTCOME
You can control:
Your effort.
Your preparation.
Your attitude.
Your response.
Your decisions.
Your boundaries.
You cannot completely control:
Other people.
Markets.
The economy.
Disease.
Aging.
Every business outcome.
How long you live.
WISDOM IS LEARNING THE DIFFERENCE
Faith can help you release the illusion that:
Everything depends entirely on you.
That can create:
Perspective.
YOU STILL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
But you don't have to carry the burden of believing you control:
Everything.
GRATITUDE CAN BECOME MORE POWERFUL WITH AGE
At some point you may realize:
Ordinary things aren't:
Ordinary.
Waking up.
Walking.
Breathing.
Calling your children.
Eating dinner with your spouse.
Going to the gym.
Laughing with friends.
Watching a:
Sunset.
THINGS YOU ONCE TOOK FOR GRANTED CAN BEGIN TO FEEL LIKE GIFTS
That's one of the beautiful things about:
Perspective.
GRATITUDE DOESN'T MEAN IGNORING WHAT'S WRONG
You can be:
Grateful
and still want:
Change.
You can appreciate your life and still:
Improve it.
GRATITUDE ISN'T PRETENDING EVERYTHING IS GOOD
It's recognizing that even when everything isn't good...
there may still be something:
GOOD.
FAITH CAN DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS
Faith isn't only:
Personal.
For many people, it also includes:
Community.
Church.
Small groups.
Bible study.
Prayer partners.
Service.
Fellowship.
WE WERE NEVER DESIGNED TO DO EVERYTHING ALONE
As we get older, relationships become increasingly:
Important.
People need:
People.
FAITH COMMUNITIES CAN PROVIDE:
Friendship.
Encouragement.
Prayer.
Service opportunities.
Practical help.
Shared meaning.
Intergenerational relationships.
That doesn't mean every church or faith community is:
Healthy.
Discernment still matters.
But healthy community can be:
Powerful.
FAITH SHOULD MAKE US BETTER AT LOVING PEOPLE
Not just better at:
Quoting Scripture.
If our faith doesn't influence:
How we treat people...
we should examine:
That.
HOW DO WE TREAT:
Our spouse?
Children?
Neighbors?
Customers?
Employees?
Strangers?
People who disagree with us?
People who cannot do anything for us?
CHARACTER IS FAITH IN ACTION
Not perfection.
But direction.
SERVICE CAN BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AFTER 50
There can be a shift as we age.
From:
“WHAT CAN I GET?”
toward:
“WHAT CAN I GIVE?”
You have decades of:
Experience.
Knowledge.
Connections.
Lessons.
Maybe financial resources.
Maybe time.
WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED?
A younger:
Entrepreneur.
Parent.
Employee.
Leader.
Believer.
Person struggling with something you've already:
Survived.
YOUR EXPERIENCE CAN BECOME SERVICE
That's purpose.
YOUR SCARS MAY BECOME SOMEONE ELSE'S ROADMAP
Not every painful experience needs to become:
Public.
But sometimes the thing you survived gives you compassion for someone walking through:
The same valley.
PURPOSE CAN GROW OUT OF EXPERIENCE
We talked about this on:
Day 62.
Your life has been teaching you:
Something.
The question becomes:
“HOW CAN I USE IT?”
FAITH CAN CHANGE HOW YOU VIEW YOUR CAREER
Your career can matter.
Your work can:
Serve.
Provide.
Create.
Solve problems.
Help people.
But your career shouldn't have to carry the full weight of:
Your identity.
JOB TITLES EXPIRE
Eventually someone else gets:
The office.
The position.
The title.
The parking spot.
That's life.
IF YOUR ENTIRE IDENTITY IS YOUR CAREER, RETIREMENT CAN FEEL LIKE DISAPPEARING
But if your identity is deeper...
retirement can become:
Transition.
YOU CAN RETIRE FROM A JOB WITHOUT RETIRING FROM PURPOSE
That's an important message for people:
Over 50.
FAITH CAN CHANGE HOW YOU VIEW MONEY
Money isn't automatically:
Bad.
Scripture doesn't say:
Money is the root of all evil.
1 Timothy 6:10 speaks about the:
LOVE OF MONEY.
That's different.
Money can be used to:
Provide.
Give.
Build.
Help.
Create opportunity.
Support causes.
Take care of family.
THE QUESTION ISN'T ONLY:
“HOW MUCH MONEY DO I HAVE?”
Another question is:
“WHAT DOES MONEY HAVE IN ME?”
Does money control your:
Identity?
Self-worth?
Relationships?
Ethics?
Peace?
WEALTH SHOULD SERVE YOUR VALUES
Your values shouldn't serve:
Your wealth.
FAITH CAN HELP YOU DEFINE ENOUGH
This is a difficult word in modern culture:
ENOUGH.
Enough house.
Enough car.
Enough status.
Enough stuff.
Enough income.
There's nothing wrong with:
Growth.
But without a definition of enough, the finish line keeps:
Moving.
MORE CAN BECOME AN ADDICTION
There's always:
A bigger house.
Faster car.
Higher rank.
More followers.
More money.
More recognition.
FAITH CAN ASK:
“WHAT AM I CHASING — AND WHY?”
That's a healthy question.
FORGIVENESS MAY BECOME MORE IMPORTANT AS WE AGE
By 50, you've probably been:
Hurt.
Betrayed.
Disappointed.
Misunderstood.
Maybe deeply.
And maybe you've hurt:
Others too.
CARRYING BITTERNESS FOR DECADES IS HEAVY
Forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean:
Reconciliation.
It doesn't mean:
Trusting someone unsafe.
It doesn't erase:
Consequences.
It doesn't mean what happened was:
Okay.
FORGIVENESS AND BOUNDARIES CAN EXIST TOGETHER
That's important.
We'll explore this more deeply later in:
Week 10.
FAITH CAN HELP US THINK ABOUT MORTALITY WITHOUT LIVING IN CONSTANT FEAR
Most people don't enjoy talking about:
Death.
But aging makes the subject harder to:
Ignore.
ACKNOWLEDGING MORTALITY CAN MAKE LIFE MORE VALUABLE
If time were unlimited...
today wouldn't feel:
Precious.
But it isn't unlimited.
So:
Call your mother.
Call your father.
Spend time with your spouse.
Tell your children you love them.
Take the trip if it responsibly fits your life.
Serve.
Forgive.
Create memories.
Do meaningful work.
DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE'S FUNERAL TO SAY WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID WHILE THEY WERE HERE
That's a lesson worth learning:
Now.
FAITH CAN CHANGE HOW YOU THINK ABOUT LEGACY
Legacy isn't only:
Money.
A will.
Property.
A business.
Those can matter.
But legacy is also:
What people learned from you.
How you treated them.
What you modeled.
Who you helped.
What values you passed down.
PEOPLE MAY FORGET WHAT YOU OWNED
But they may remember:
How you made them feel.
What you taught them.
How you showed up.
LEGACY IS BUILT BEFORE YOU'RE GONE
You're building it:
Today.
FAITH SHOULD NOT BECOME SUPERSTITION
This is important in:
Business.
Health.
Money.
And life.
Faith is not:
“If I believe hard enough, I'll get rich.”
“If I pray enough, I'll never get sick.”
“If I give money, God owes me more money.”
“If my business fails, my faith wasn't strong enough.”
Those are not responsible conclusions.
FAITH IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF A SPECIFIC EARTHLY OUTCOME
Good people experience:
Hardship.
Faithful people experience:
Illness.
Believers experience:
Financial problems.
Businesses fail.
Plans change.
DON'T TURN GOD INTO A TRANSACTION
“I did this, so God must give me that.”
Faith is deeper than:
That.
FAITH CAN GIVE STRENGTH WITHOUT PROMISING THE STORM WILL DISAPPEAR
Sometimes the prayer is answered by:
Removing the problem.
Sometimes life requires us to walk:
Through it.
PSALM 23 DOESN'T SAY THERE IS NO VALLEY
It says:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...”
The valley is:
There.
The message is about God's presence:
Within it.
That's a powerful distinction.
FAITH CAN HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR PEACE
Peace doesn't require a life without:
Problems.
Sometimes peace is the ability to remain:
Grounded
while problems exist.
PEACE AND PASSIVITY ARE NOT THE SAME
You can have peace and still:
Take action.
Set boundaries.
Make changes.
Have difficult conversations.
Leave unhealthy situations.
Solve problems.
INNER PEACE SHOULD NOT REQUIRE OUTER DENIAL
That's mature faith.
FAITH CAN HELP YOU HANDLE SUCCESS TOO
We often turn to God during:
Failure.
But success can test us too.
Success can produce:
Pride.
Entitlement.
Isolation.
Greed.
The belief that:
“I did all this myself.”
HUMILITY REMINDS YOU:
You had:
Help.
Opportunities.
Teachers.
Customers.
Employees.
Family.
Mentors.
Grace.
And circumstances you didn't completely:
Control.
GRATITUDE CAN KEEP SUCCESS FROM BECOMING ARROGANCE
That's another role faith can:
Play.
WHAT IF YOUR FAITH HAS WEAKENED?
Maybe you've been:
Disappointed.
Hurt by a church.
Angry with God.
Confused.
Maybe you haven't attended church in:
Years.
Maybe prayer feels:
Different.
Maybe you have questions you were afraid to:
Ask.
QUESTIONS DON'T HAVE TO BE THE ENEMY OF FAITH
Sometimes questions lead to:
Deeper understanding.
Don't be afraid to:
Study.
Read.
Pray.
Ask.
Seek wise counsel.
Explore Scripture in:
Context.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRETEND
Start where you:
Are.
HOW CAN YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH AFTER 50?
Not through one giant:
Moment.
Often through small, consistent:
Practices.
1. PRAY
Not just when you:
Need something.
Create space to:
Listen.
Reflect.
Give thanks.
Ask for wisdom.
2. READ SCRIPTURE
Not simply isolated:
Verses.
Study:
Context.
History.
Meaning.
Application.
3. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Ask:
What am I grateful for:
Today?
Not someday.
Today.
4. SERVE
Look for someone you can:
Help.
5. BUILD COMMUNITY
Faith can be personal.
But it doesn't have to be:
Isolated.
6. FORGIVE
Not because what happened was:
Okay.
But because bitterness doesn't deserve permanent residence in your:
Heart.
Seek professional or pastoral support when the situation warrants it.
7. BE STILL
Everything doesn't need:
Noise.
Turn off:
The television.
Phone.
Notifications.
Sit.
Think.
Pray.
8. LIVE YOUR VALUES
Faith isn't just what you:
Say.
It's how you:
Live.
TRY THE COACH MARCUS FAITH AFTER 50 FRAMEWORK
REFLECT.
What really matters now?
TRUST.
What am I carrying that I cannot completely control?
PRAY.
Where do I need wisdom, strength or peace?
ACT.
What responsibility is mine?
SERVE.
Who can benefit from what God has given me?
GIVE THANKS.
What blessings am I overlooking?
LIVE.
How can my values show up in my choices today?
REFLECT → TRUST → PRAY → ACT → SERVE → GIVE THANKS → LIVE
Notice:
Faith doesn't end with:
Prayer.
It leads back into:
LIFE.
FAITH • HEALTH • WEALTH • FREEDOM
This is why Better Living After 50 begins with:
FAITH.
Because faith can influence how you approach:
Everything else.
FAITH
gives you:
Foundation.
HEALTH
gives you:
Capacity.
WEALTH
gives you:
Options.
FREEDOM
gives you greater control over:
Time.
And:
PURPOSE
helps determine what you do with:
All of it.
WITHOUT PURPOSE, FREEDOM CAN BECOME EMPTY
Imagine having:
Money.
Health.
Time.
No debt.
No job requirement.
But no:
Meaning.
No relationships.
No contribution.
No direction.
Would that really feel like:
The good life?
Maybe not.
A FULL LIFE NEEDS MORE THAN RESOURCES
It needs:
Meaning.
MYTHS VS. FACTS
Myth: Strong faith means you never doubt.
Fact: People of faith can experience questions, uncertainty, grief and doubt. Christian Scripture itself contains examples of people wrestling with God and difficult circumstances.
Myth: Faith means everything will work out exactly how you want.
Fact: Christian faith does not guarantee a particular health, financial, career or business outcome.
Myth: Prayer means you don't need professional help.
Fact: Prayer and appropriate medical, mental-health, financial, legal or other professional guidance can coexist.
Myth: Being grateful means ignoring your problems.
Fact: Gratitude can coexist with grief, disappointment and efforts to improve difficult circumstances.
Myth: Wealth and faith cannot coexist.
Fact: The more relevant questions include how wealth is obtained, how it is viewed, how it affects character and how resources are used.
Myth: Retirement means your purpose is over.
Fact: Leaving paid employment does not require leaving contribution, relationships, learning, service or purpose.
Myth: Forgiveness means allowing someone to keep hurting you.
Fact: Forgiveness does not necessarily require reconciliation, restored trust or removal of appropriate boundaries.
Myth: Aging means life becomes less meaningful.
Fact: Meaning and purpose can continue developing throughout later life.
COACH MARCUS TAKEAWAYS
1. FAITH CAN BECOME MORE IMPORTANT WHEN CONTROL BECOMES LESS CERTAIN.
You won't control:
Everything.
2. FAITH DOESN'T REQUIRE FAKE HAPPINESS.
You can believe and still:
Grieve.
3. PRAYER AND RESPONSIBILITY BELONG TOGETHER.
Pray.
Then do what is:
Yours to do.
4. SUCCESS CANNOT ANSWER EVERY QUESTION.
Eventually life asks questions bigger than:
Achievement.
5. GRATITUDE CHANGES PERSPECTIVE.
Ordinary moments become:
Gifts.
6. HEALTHY FAITH INCLUDES COMMUNITY AND SERVICE.
Faith should influence how we:
Treat people.
7. MONEY IS A TOOL.
Don't make it your:
Identity.
8. PURPOSE DOESN'T RETIRE.
Your job may end.
Your contribution doesn't have to.
9. LEGACY IS BEING BUILT RIGHT NOW.
Not someday.
TODAY.
10. REMEMBER:
FAITH DOESN'T ALWAYS CHANGE THE SITUATION.
SOMETIMES IT CHANGES HOW YOU WALK THROUGH IT.
MY FINAL THOUGHT
As I've gotten older, I've realized something.
There are things I can:
Control.
And there are things I:
Cannot.
I can work on my:
Health.
I can manage my:
Money.
I can build:
Businesses.
I can create:
Opportunities.
I can learn:
New skills.
I can make:
Plans.
But I cannot guarantee:
Tomorrow.
Neither can:
You.
And strangely...
that doesn't have to be:
Depressing.
It can be:
Liberating.
Because once you understand that time is:
Precious...
you begin paying closer attention to:
How you use it.
You begin asking different:
Questions.
Do I need to win every:
Argument?
Do I need everybody to:
Like me?
Do I need more:
Stuff?
Do I need to carry that:
Grudge?
Do I need to keep postponing the things that:
Matter?
Do I need to spend another year living entirely for:
Someday?
Maybe:
Not.
Maybe getting older isn't only about losing:
Time.
Maybe it's also about gaining:
PERSPECTIVE.
You begin understanding that some of life's greatest blessings don't always come with:
Price tags.
A peaceful morning.
A healthy body.
A spouse beside you.
A conversation with your child.
A meal with your family.
A friend who answers the phone.
A chance to help somebody.
Another sunrise.
Another:
Day.
And maybe that's one reason faith can become more important as we:
Age.
Because faith reminds us that life is more than what we:
Own.
More than what we:
Earn.
More than what we:
Accomplish.
More than what people:
Think of us.
Life also involves:
Who we become.
Who we love.
Who we serve.
What we believe.
What we stand for.
And what we leave:
Behind.
So keep building your:
Health.
Build your:
Wealth.
Create more:
Freedom.
Pursue your:
Goals.
But don't build everything except your:
FOUNDATION.
Because eventually the career:
Ends.
The title:
Changes.
The children:
Grow up.
The body:
Ages.
The world:
Changes.
And the things that once seemed so urgent can suddenly feel much:
Smaller.
That's when you begin understanding why some things deserve to be placed:
First.
For me...
that's:
FAITH.
Not because faith makes life:
Easy.
But because faith helps give life:
Meaning.
Not because I understand:
Everything.
But because I know I don't have to:
Understand everything.
Not because there won't be:
Valleys.
But because I believe I don't have to walk through them:
Alone.
So as you get older...
Don't only ask:
“How many years do I have left?”
Ask:
“HOW WILL I LIVE THE YEARS I HAVE?”
Live with:
Faith.
Love.
Gratitude.
Purpose.
Wisdom.
Service.
And hope.
Because getting older doesn't have to mean becoming:
Less.
It can mean going:
DEEPER.
Deeper in:
Faith.
Deeper in:
Relationships.
Deeper in:
Gratitude.
Deeper in:
Purpose.
And deeper in understanding what:
REALLY MATTERS.
Getting older is automatic.
Growing spiritually is intentional.
DON'T JUST GET OLDER. GET BETTER AT IT.™
Faith • Health • Wealth • Freedom
— Coach Marcus Jones
FAITH, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, FINANCIAL & LIFE DISCLAIMER
This article reflects a Christian faith perspective and is provided for general educational, inspirational and informational purposes. It is not individualized medical, mental-health, financial, legal, business or pastoral counseling.
Faith and prayer should not be used as substitutes for appropriate medical treatment, mental-health care, financial planning, legal guidance or other professional assistance when needed.
People experiencing persistent grief, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, thoughts of self-harm or other serious emotional distress should seek appropriate professional support. In an immediate crisis or emergency, contact emergency services or an appropriate crisis resource.
Scripture discussed in this article should not be interpreted as guaranteeing a particular health, financial, career, business or personal outcome.
SOURCE ANNOTATIONS & FURTHER READING
The Holy Bible — Proverbs 3:5–6
This passage emphasizes trust in God rather than relying solely on human understanding. In this article, it is used as a principle of faith and humility—not as a promise that every personal plan will succeed.
The Holy Bible — Psalm 23
Psalm 23 portrays God's guidance and presence, including through difficult circumstances. Importantly, the passage does not portray faithful life as free from hardship; it explicitly describes walking through a valley.
The Holy Bible — 1 Timothy 6:6–10
This passage provides important context for Christian discussions of money. Verse 10 refers to the love of money, rather than money itself, as a root of many kinds of evil.
National Institute on Aging — Loneliness and Social Isolation
NIA provides information about social connection and healthy aging. Faith communities are one of many possible settings through which some older adults may develop relationships and community, although the quality and experience of those communities varies.
National Institute on Aging — Participating in Activities You Enjoy as You Age
NIA discusses meaningful activities, social engagement and participation as people age. These resources provide broader context for the importance of remaining connected, purposeful and engaged later in life.
PHASE 3 — FAITH, PURPOSE & INNER STRENGTH
WEEK 10 — FAITH, PURPOSE & INNER STRENGTH
Day 68: Why Does Faith Become More Important as We Get Older? — Current Article
Day 69: How Can Faith Help You Through Major Life Transitions?
Day 70: How Do You Find Purpose When Your Career No Longer Defines You?
Day 71: Why Is Gratitude So Powerful for Your Health and Happiness?
Day 72: How Do You Protect Your Peace as You Get Older?
Day 73: Why Is Forgiveness Important for Your Well-Being?
Day 74: How Do You Stay Hopeful During Difficult Seasons of Life?
NEXT: DAY 69
How Can Faith Help You Through Major Life Transitions?
Life after 50 can bring some of the biggest transitions you will ever:
Experience.
Retirement.
Job loss.
Career change.
Children leaving home.
Becoming a grandparent.
Moving.
Divorce.
Marriage.
Caregiving.
Health changes.
Losing someone you love.
And sometimes:
Starting over.
Transitions can create a strange feeling.
The old life is:
Gone.
But the new life doesn't quite feel:
Normal yet.
You're standing somewhere:
IN BETWEEN.
Tomorrow we're going to talk about what faith can look like in that space.
Not:
Pretending everything is okay.
Not:
Claiming God will make every transition easy.
Not:
Ignoring practical responsibilities.
But learning how to walk through uncertainty with:
Faith.
Wisdom.
Patience.
Community.
Prayer.
And action.
We'll talk about why losing a role can feel like losing part of your:
Identity.
Why unanswered questions don't automatically mean:
Abandoned faith.
Why you sometimes have to grieve an old chapter before embracing a:
New one.
Why faith and planning belong:
Together.
And why sometimes the most important prayer during a transition isn't:
“GOD, SHOW ME THE ENTIRE PLAN.”
Sometimes it's simply:
“GOD, SHOW ME MY NEXT STEP.”
Because when life changes...
faith doesn't always tell you exactly what happens:
Next.
Sometimes faith gives you enough strength to keep walking until: