Living Fabulously in Midlife and Beyond: Who Has Time for Joy? Finding Purpose, Vision, and Joy in Your New Season of Life.

Being joyful in life, period, is a challenge but it's especially challenging for those of us who have entered a new season. Why, you say? Because real life happened. When we were young, we dreamed, tried to create those dreams and then as we hit our 50's we begin to realize that those dreams in our 20's didn't turn out the way we expected and time is running out. We might have gained weight, (Our bodies are not punishing us): our metabolism just slows down. We don't feel or look our best anymore and/or we don't know what our best is supposed to look like. Dang we're tired. We're not trying to get our youth back, although it's tempting, but we just want to know what has happened to the life we dreamed of. The person we were. We can become more skeptical, less likely to make or maintain as many friends, especially when they might be passing away in droves and we become more realistic and less likely to take chances. What a life. Who has time for joy?

You and I do. Joy is the great reclaimer of life. God has said in James 1:2-4 and in Romans 5:3-5 that we should have joy in tribulation. And we all know right now, in this world, joy is at a minimum because of all the challenges we are facing in the world and in our lives. But notice the scripture doesn't say we will not have problems. It is saying defy the problems, trust God and be joyful because you know there is hope in his ability to work with us through them. James goes on to even say that our problems work to produce patience in us--endurance--and after patience works, we will become stronger more grounded, steady, wise and complete in our walk with God. That's the true blessing because materials things can come and go. Our endurance and hope in God, NEVER do!

I know many might say this sounds depressing, and it does, but it's a much truer version of what midlife can feel like. However, there is hope. We can make that change. A transition to become a better YOU with a better life, full of God's joy and stick-to-it-itis. No, you don't need to take an unending vacation (unless you want to) and no you don't necessarily need to change your surroundings (unless you want to) but you do need to change your perception--the way you look at life and think about your life daily. I've said it before and I'll say it again, louder this time. "Perception matters."

What do I mean? It's our thought life that creates our emotions, and if our emotions remain raggedy, so will the outcome be. A new life will not happen just because we change our environment but changing our thought patterns about who we are, what we need, what we want, and how to get it will. It's about living this challenging life with the desire to bring our beauty, our spin on life, or our touch that helps others see a better way of life. In other words, your vision. The Bible says "Where there is no vision, the people perish...." Proverbs 29:18. Not a mystical vision but a clear direction and purpose, hope, something to look forward to. Many of us, including myself, start off with something exciting and forward, but as soon as a challenge hits or the excitement wears off, we stop doing it and resort to, "it wasn't going to happen anyway." Been there, done that. Have the life tickets to prove it....but something happened in my inner man. The spirit of God said, "Not this time. Finish what you started."

"Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established (Proverbs 16:3) Make sure the vision aligns with God. Because only He gives true purpose. That means, pray, use your natural gifts and ideas, and pursue what excites you and brings Him honor and glory. We are not meant to just be church providers, the church is for the sick. We are to also bring other sick people to a God that can heal. How do we do that? By honoring who He made you to be and tempering your spirit through His Word. People will know you by the fruit of your life--by who you are and what you produce.

Image created with AI by ChatGPT/OpenAI.

I wanted to run, duck, pretend, escape, and say I was just kidding, but He wouldn't let me. So here I am reclaiming my vision, my path, my clarity, and my decisions, all because of God, who told me to hang in there. Basically, I didn't get a pass to not live what I preach. This is where it becomes difficult. It's easy to sit on the mountaintop and direct others, it's way more difficult to live it yourself. Why does it matter? Because you matter, I matter, and because we have purpose, experiences, and life challenges that we have overcome, and we can help the next person and even our children to see the good while we continue to manifest it in a fallen world. We don't necessarily do this by preaching or teaching, but by example. If you still have purpose, clarity, and vision at this age, there is HOPE for you.

Today, that fallen world is even more in need of God's light which He manifests through us. We can't duck our heads in the sand, run from it, or teach our children to pretend it doesn't exist. It will affect them greatly and they will be swimming in the mess while we will be responsible for not giving them a lifeboat if we don't show purpose, fortitude and determination for the good. It ain't easy and it ain't ova. Children don't do what they're told only, they do what they see.

We don't all have to be glamorous and movie stars to make a beautiful life. We just need God's determination. Throughout scripture, He tells us to wait on him; to write the vision, and make it plain; and to act on the vision. Ecclesiastes 9:10, Colossians 3:23, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 10:36. The pattern from these scriptures is clear: if we have God's vision we should first pray, act, be persistent, have patience, and wait on the fulfillment.

This is not about being "perfect," because that doesn't exist for any of us, but about living a life that continually praises, honors, and believes in the true living God. That kind of life will always get the victory. But it won't come easy, and it isn't living a comfortable life of having everything you want. It has overalls on.....working for the good of the Kingdom with your vision, your purpose, and your clarity. Don't be deceived, you will have to fight daily (Ephesians 6:10-11) to maintain your Godly perspective, but he does not send us out to battle without armor.

Your greatness is NOT determined by where you start, but by where you finish. This isn't about success in the worldly way, but success in replacing what is wrong with what is good.

In conclusion, what's your vision? Big or small? What has God put on your heart to do at this time? You are NEVER to old to set another Godly goal, pursue it, and enjoy life as it is.

Finally, what does this have to do with being joyful. Well, most of us feel being joyful means we have to have life the way we want and everything we want before we are considered "happy." We're watching too much TV or too many Instagram posts. But God never called us to happiness, that's fleeting, He called us to be joyful in tribulation. What does that really mean? That although life might be tearing us a part and we become downcast, downtrodden and crazed, we are to have the hope of God....who bears our burdens, our concerns, our weaknesses, our limitations, our impatience, etc. We are never alone. Look it up, all throughout the word of God and the history of the saints, that has been their experience. Looking to God where whence cometh their help.

We are ALL being held accountable now. No more waiting for hero's of the faith to come on the scene. We are the next hero's or sheroes God is calling. Are you ready to take the mantle. Share your faith through your purpose, your vision, and your hope. Below are some books and journals I recommend.

Love you, but Christ loves you more.......

Books on Joy:

No Matter What: 90 Devotions for Experiencing Unexpected Joy in Tough Times