By Katy Mariotti

God Has Plans For You

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

 ^“Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.'”
Luke 1:18-19 New International Version

Since I was a kid, every year on the 4th of July I paint my nails in patriotic colors. I have fun switching it up a little every year: sometimes I do toes, sometimes fingers, sometimes I add sparkles. One year I actually did tiny US flags on each toe. My best friend growing up used to do this with me, and so every year I send her a picture of my nails. This year after I took the picture I felt dismayed. My hand was no longer that of a teenager, smooth and young. I turned 40 this year and the picture of my hand… looked like a 40-year-old hand.

The thing you may not realize about getting older is that you still feel young. I get the same delight from painting my nails that I always have, and I still have other “young” feelings: excitement, hope, giddy love feelings. But getting older means your body is getting older… new ailments pop up and with them new fears and anxieties. You start to wonder how much time there is left, and what is there left for you in life.

The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in the Bible is proof that no matter your age, God has great things in store for you. Zechariah and Elizabeth were beyond childbearing years, yet here was Gabriel saying “you’re going to have a baby.”  And they’re not the first either… remember Abraham and Sarah? They were told they were going to have a baby as well, and Sarah laughed.

^“Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh and say, “Will I really have a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.'”
Genesis 18:13-14, NIV

No matter what your age, God has plans for you. You are not too old to experience God’s will, and be joyful that even when your body feels old, it’s not finished yet.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado