The Rescue

Sunday, May 17, 2015
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Listen while you read: "For All The Saints"1 (Lyrics)

Isaiah 46:3-4 – Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (NIV)

Getting older can place us in a tight spot. Each year, things which hadn't seemed to be changing at all now catch me unawares. My hair is actually turning grey. The third finger of my right hand has a cyst on the tendon which causes the middle joint to lock up at the most inconvenient times. One of my hips is forever scolding me when I rise up and sit down. And as if these things weren't enough, my wrinkles are multiplying at an alarming rate and my skin sags in the most disconcerting places. Mmmm … gray hair, wrinkles, sagging skin … just a minute … maybe I'm not getting older at all. Maybe I'm simply becoming an elephant.

As much as I laugh about these things, they also concern me, especially as I know so many people who have to make decisions about their older parents or even themselves. Out of necessity, many are seeking the convenience and security of seniors' apartments or the aid of nursing homes or other care facilities. I don't want to reach this point. I don't want to have to choose to reside or to be placed in such a home. In fact, I find such a thought not only alarming but also frightening. I don't want to think that perhaps, one day, I will have to leave my home and family to live alone with a bunch of old, or worse yet, sick and old fogies. In fact, I don't even want to get any older and possibly have to depend more and more on somebody else taking care of me. After all, when we're honest with ourselves, who of us do?

And yet it happens. Things change; we get old; and we may have to make decisions or live with others' decisions which we don't like. But thanks be to God, some things don't change. For God reassures us that He Who has upheld us since we were conceived and has carried us since our birth — even to our old age and gray hairs — He is with us and will sustain us. He Who made us and carried us and sustains us will also one day rescue us from the bondage of these aging bodies to dwell eternally in glory with Himself, where He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. And that's definitely an absolutely wonderful promise to hold close to our hearts, now and forevermore, no matter how old we may be.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You remain the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and that Your promises are faithful and true just as You are. In Christ's name, we give You honour, glory, and praise. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    I love your little joke!!!


    Beautiful devotional. Loved it! Keep writing.


    I can relate. Thank goodness there’s something better ahead.


    Happy Holiday weekend Lynne. Thank you for today’s devotional.


    Thanks for your thoughtful words Lynne. Blessings to you and yours.


    Thank you so much for this. God was able to reach through to me via your thoughtful words. I really needed to hear that. God bless you.


    Humorous, yet meaningful, Lynne. Even though my hair is long past being grey, God sustains me.
    Old enough to be your grandfather.


    Hi Lynne,
    Great encouragement for us ‘Old Folks at Home’ and a surety of the Blessed Hope that will carry us through.
    Be blessed!


    Personally I read psalm 103 and trust that He is good to His Word, as we hope He might be.
    Still I enjoy flying on eagle’s wings for as long as I am allowed.
    Blessings.


    I totally relate to your message, Lynne. I feel exactly the same way about health and appearance, and the inevitability of more change.
    I am sooo thankful that God is our sustainer through all our challenges too.
    Blessings to you, and thank you for sharing.


    Lynne, can I ever relate! As the old fogey cartoon character stated, “Old age ain’t for sissies.” Isn’t it grand that God never changes which means He never ages as we do and praise Jesus’ name, we will someday be eternal, too, never changing, nor aging.


    Dear Lynn: sp
    mmmm… an elephant huh? One of God’s noblest and wonderful creatures. Not so bad!!!
    From one older person to another.
    God bless you dear friend, and please keep writing.


    This was an encouraging message Lynne. Just yesterday, I was talking to a friend about the side-effects of getting old but the Scripture you shared today was so inspiring; I’m going to mark it in my Bible. I also enjoyed your humor on the signs of aging – I think it helps to make light of it! Like you said, God will always sustain us because no matter how old or young we are, we’ll always be His children.
    Blessings always.


    Hi Lynne:
    Thoroughly enjoy the devotionals you share.
    Object kindly to this one. Grey hair, wrinkles are the least of life’s changes. Living in an assisted living facility for 6 years has been an absolute blessing because God came with me.
    God is still in control even when a younger tablemate has to help get food to my mouth. Parkinsons may control my body but not my mind.


    Hello Lynne,
    Thank you for your devotion.
    Your writing spoke to me beautifully and reassuringly as our family goes through transitions of a move. I could relate to your personal thoughts, but also thinking this through for my mother who must find change difficult now.
    Thank you for your reminder of God’s reassuring constant presence. His steadfast love does endure forever!
    Blessings to you and yours on this ascension Sunday.


    Dear Lynne, Thank you. As I continued to read deeper into the contents of your Devotional message this morning I felt you could have been standing before me ‘reading’ the thoughts I have, my present physical appearance and appreciate the few, though bearable, areas of pain and concerns I daily feel.
    My dear wife is in a Nursing Home a few miles away, and it frightens me as I see the other residents so disabled as my wife’s daily ‘neighbours’. I realize that may be my future within this life and my wife will lose me as her loving human advocate. Yet Scripture along with your reminder assures me that she will pass into the Life of the hereafter that will be far more perfect for her where she will begin to smile again. And so I pray with, “Please let it be so, Lord, let it be so. Amen.”


    Dear Lynne;
    So true. I know of what you speak as I am going through this same transition. The promise is comforting. God bless you.


    Until today, I didn’t know you “wore a crown of glory” as the Bible describes it. I wish you strength with every passing age.
    Thank You.

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