Retired-Life Courage

“For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9

As we prepare for and live through our retired-life years, we can be sure we will face a range of challenges, both physical and emotional. The modern world provides us with a vast array of therapies, gurus, distractions, and medications to help us cope with these challenges. None of these can compete with the Grace of God.

Grace, of course, is defined as “unmerited favor of God toward man.” Having the knowledge of this Grace provides believers a courage to face obstacles that others will never know.

This assurance of God’s Grace and the courage it provides as we live out our lives asks us only to be true to God and live our lives doing what is right and true. I enjoy reading the essays of C. Kingsley, and here is what he wrote about courage:

“There is one thing you have to fear in heaven or earth – being untrue to your better selves, and therefore untrue to God. If you will not do the thing you know to be right, and say the thing you know to be true, then indeed you are weak. You are a coward, and sin against God, and therefore you cannot expect Him to stand by you. But who will harm you if you be followers of that which is right?”

Isaiah 46:4

“Even to your old age and grey 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.”

God bless,
John

Photo taken in November 2019 at the Southern Steps in Jerusalem.