I have seen the Godgiven task with which

“I have seen the Godgiven task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that …” MID-LIFE

“…no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should…” MID-LIFE

“…eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3: 10 -13 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance Through the MID-LIFE

Age Mid-Life 30 100 Mid-Life 15? 50, 60? Mid-life = period after younger adulthood (after parenting)—prior to old age.

Challenges of Mid-Life Turned Out Different

“If a man reaches forty and yet is disliked by his fellows, he will be so to the end” Confucius Analects, vol. ix, bk. 17. ch. 26

Challenges of Mid-Life Turned Out Different Aging of the Body

Hercules in Mid-Life “You began better than you end; your last deeds yield to your first; the man you are and the child you were are not the same” Ovid, Heroides, epist. ix, l. 24

Challenges of Mid-Life Turned Out Different Aging of the Body The Battle with Cynicism

“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them. ’” Ecclesiastes 12: 1 MID-LIFE

“At fifty one can no longer love” Napolean Bonaparte, To Gaspard Gourgaud, April 7 th, 1817 While exiled on St. Helena

Challenges of Mid-Life Turned Out Different Aging of the Body The Battle with Cynicism Relationships and Responsibilities

“Youth is a blunder, Manhood a struggle; Old Age a regret” Benjamin Disraeli Coningsby, bk iii, ch 1 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life

“Perishing”

“Grow up as soon as you can. It pays. The only time you live fully is from thirty to sixty… The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits. ” Harvey Allen, Anthony Adverse , ch. 31 MID-LIFE

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…” 2 Peter 3: 14 -15 MID-LIFE

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. ” 2 Peter 3: 17 -18 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life

When I can look Life in the eyes, Grown calm and very coldly wise, Life will have given me the Truth, And taken in exchange—my youth Sara Teasdale Wisdom

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” 1 Peter 1: 22 -23 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life

“Knowledge and timber shouldn’t be much used until they are seasoned” Oliver Wendell Holmes, The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table , VI

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. ” 2 Corinthians 4: 17 MID-LIFE

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ” Romans 8: 18 MID-LIFE

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. ” 2 Corinthians 1: 3 -5 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? ” Mark 8: 36 MID-LIFE

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life

Biblical Guidance for Mid-Life