Too Old to Make a Difference?

Guest blog by Bev Phillips

“I’m too old to do much of anything anymore,” mumbled the elderly gentleman as I greeted him in the church foyer one Sunday morning and inquired how he was doing. In my role as Care Ministry Director at our church, I have heard this sentiment from our older generation more than once. This man had been a farmer, a church leader, a strong supporter of missions, and a Christian who had impacted many for God throughout the years. I asked him if he was still able to pray; a slow grin spread across his face as he nodded affirmatively. “You still can do the most important thing,” I encouraged, “and it’s something that is so desperately needed for the adults and children here – please don’t stop!”

The Bible gives us an encouraging example of the powerful prayers of the older generation in the story of Joshua’s battle with the Amalekites in Exodus 17. As long as his mentor Moses, stationed on an overlooking hill, held the staff of God up in the air (representing intercession to God’s authority on the behalf of the younger men in the army below) the battle went well. When he tired of standing, he sat down; then his arms weakened, so Aaron and Hur supported his hands on either side allowing Moses to keep the staff raised.

All three of these men were octogenarians but their intercessory actions were critical to the victory of those in the battle below (even more pivotal than the weapons and strength of their younger counterparts). Their ministry was not hindered by chronological age or even by physical weakness; without their obedience, teamwork, and crucial involvement as a bridge between God and the younger generation, the enemy would have won a victory. God chooses to use us in spite of our weaknesses to achieve His purposes (I Corinthians 1:27), so let us never say we are too old to make a difference! May we pray as if the outcome of the battle depends on us for it very well may.

           Our prayers can hold up the arms for the parents of our grandchildren.  Our grandchildren and their parents desperately are in need of our prayers.

Guest blog by Bev Phillips:  Bev Phillips is Director of Care Ministries at Lakes Free Church in Lindstrom, MN. She and her husband Olin have 9 adult children, 4 daughters-in-law, 2 sons-in-law, and 10 grandchildren (11 months to 17 years); they also have been foster parents to 12. Bev and her husband Olin reside in Stacy, MN. They are presenters of Courageous Grandparenting seminars for the Christian Grandparenting Network as well as Ambassadors for the Legacy Coalition, a national grandparenting ministry.