Reflections On Turning 40 and Practical Tips Part 1
This week I finish my last week of being in my thirties. When I stop and consider all that the has transpired in the last 10 years I have a slew of emotions and reflections. Taking time to pause and reflect during and after various seasons in life is an important work to do. I would commend anyone to take time during the rhythms and seasons of your day, week, month, seasons and life to pause, evaluate and pray and intrust to the Lord. It is good for us to be thoughtful and intentional about the direction of our lives, being careful to pursue wisdom and avoid folly. Some people plan and are intentional on a very granular and specific plan like a wise and foolish filing cabinet with carefully labeled tabs. Others take a high-level view, planning more as a wise or foolish bucket, while God makes us all different, we must remember that we will give an account at the end of our life for how we used our time.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
Consider Where You Are
When pausing to reflect, taking a moment to observe where I currently am is a helpful practice. Taking quick intake of where I am and how I feel about it is a helpful evaluation. Understanding an objective look at my emotional, physical, and spiritual state is a place to start, and then looking at the roles that God has given me, Wife, Mom, church member, community member, extended family, friends, etc. just a quick litmus sets the tone for the evaluation. Even considering where I THOUGHT I would have been, DESIRED to be, or what the life of a wise person in this situation would look like.
Currently we have 6 children, we moved into a new home, we are plugged into a great church, and adjusting to our life in Colorado, Gavin and I have been married for almost 15 years, We are both in better health than we were 10 years ago, our financial picture has improved and we are growing in our relationship with the Lord. I am learning and growing in new ways and excited and hopeful about the future. Currently, in some ways my life looks like what I thought it would and in other ways it looks totally different.
Looking Back
There have been many seasons when I have realized that I am not (in one area of life or another)where I wanted to be and I can become discouraged, tempted to compare, or feel hopeless or stuck in my situation and despair. One thing that Gavin and I have said is that we desire to make the best choice with the information that we have at the time. Sometimes in looking back I might realize that another choice might have been better, but usually we have information NOW that we didn’t have at the time and we made the best decision at the time, having that mindset has helped me not live in regret or disappointment. Taking an account of the past helps me understand how I ended up where I am now and I can usually backtrack and understand how I ended up in my current situation. The quick intake helps me have compassion in my shortcomings and allows me to sit with that in peace.
There have also been some seasons when I see that exceedingly more has happened or I gained more success than I would have ever dreamed of. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty and provision, grace, and care to multiply our efforts is something that is not lost on us and brings me to tears that He cares for so many details of our life big and small.
God is sovereign over all things in life and it is possible for me to walk in wisdom and endure hardship or trials, knowing that the rain falls on the just and the unjust, that God disciplines those He Loves.
Looking Forward
This is one area that God has grown me and refined my mindset in. It is easy and fun to make plans, set goals and move forward with purpose and intention. Great satisfaction is derived from crossing off a list or working towards a greater goal. For many years I hit the target on most goals that I set and I was under the illusion that if I plan it or set the goal it will happen. My effort will produce the desired result or outcome and also that if people had hardship, setbacks, or weren’t accomplishing goals that that was a result of their own lack of effort or drive. This mindset is completely false. I began to see in my life and in God’s Word many verses about HIS plans and sovereignty and I was greatly humbled over and over as I set my hand to the plow and harvest did not come. Little did I know that the soil was being cultivated and fertilized and the winter was a little longer
It has really been a treat and a rewarding exercise to evaluate the last decade and prayerfully and thoughtfully consider the next decade. I hope this series blesses you and gives some ideas to prayerfully consider for your own life. These are my own ideas that have worked for me, not a blueprint for life. If you have a process for evaluating your life and days please share any ideas or resources that you like, I always love to hear from you!.
