Oftentimes fruitfulness can be painful; so many examples
abound in nature that attests to this truth.
When a woman conceives, her body’s first reaction is “wow!
What’s that? Some strange things begin to happen to her. Some women experience
morning sickness; others experience absurd cravings while others are sleepy and
lethargic all day long. These experiences are just a few of the things that
happen.
All through the nine months of gestation, the woman suffers
discomforts and some other inconveniences that one would rather do without. For
some, the process of birthing is excruitiating, for others not so bad, but not
pleasant all the same.
These and many more encompass the pain of fruitfulness. Yet
I wonder how come women like my mother went through this process 8 times!
I asked her once about this and she said “once I held my
baby in my arms for the first time, the pain is forgotten”. Wow! What a wonder of nature!
Let’s look at a fruitful tree. My father once told me that
it’s only fruitful trees that children throw sticks and stones at.
This in essence means that fruitful trees are usually the
most attacked. People throw sticks at them to get the fruits down. Some others
shake the trees vigorously while yet others climb the tree to get the fruits
down.
The process of the tree sharing its fruit with the world can
either be painful or discomforting or even sometimes downright frustrating! But
does the tree stop bearing fruits because of this? No!
Every season, it goes through the cycle to produce fruits
that would either be received respectfully, or by other less pleasant means.
So what would it be? Would you forfeit fruitfulness just
because of the pain?
Would you rather die in obscurity because you don’t want
people talking about you?
Would you rather go to your grave with all the potentials
that God has endowed you with than be criticized by people?
What would it be? Would you embrace the pain of fruitfulness
or would you live an unfulfilled life?
The “What If” Syndrome is a malady that attacks
everyone. However, this problem is more prevalent the older one gets.
The single asks “what if” I never get married?.
What if I have to be all alone in old age?
Some women ask “what if” I never had kids?
The parents of college age kids ask “what if” we
can’t see our kids through college?
The single parent asks “what if” I mess up my
kid’s life? “what if” I’m not a good parent?
There are so many “what ifs” that confront
midlifers…
“What if I’m diagnosed with cancer or some life
threatening disease?
“What if I go bankrupt or become unable to provide for
my family?
“What if my husband leaves me for a younger woman?
“What if my children turn out badly?
What if? What if?? What if???
The Root of The ‘what if “Syndrome
Notice that all the examples of the “what ifs”
I’ve given are negative? So is it safe to say that the root of the “what if” syndrome is fear?
I did a bit of research on this and my conclusion is YES!
Fear is the root of the “what if” syndrome.
Before we delve into dealing with fear, we need to understand what fear is and God’s perspective on fear.
Dictionary Definition
of Fear
Fear is a feeling induced by perceived danger or threat that
occurs in certain types of organisms, which causes a change in metabolic and
organ functions and ultimately a change in behavior, such as fleeing, hiding,
or freezing from perceived traumatic events. Fear in human beings may occur in
response to certain stimulus occurring in the present, or in anticipation or
expectation of a future threat perceived as a risk to body or life. The fear
response arises from the perception of danger leading to confrontation with or
escape from/avoiding the threat (also known as the fight-or-flight response),
which in extreme cases of fear (horror and terror) can be a freeze response or
paralysis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear
Human Perspective on
Fear
Psychologists posit that fear is a healthy phenomena. They
all agree that every human being is wired with a sense of fear. Furthermore,
they say that this type of fear helps us to avoid dangerous situations.
Humanly speaking, we can all identify with this. From the
irrational fear of the dark/bogey man of childhood to fear learned from
experiences; different factors shape our fears.
Some of these fears are considered rational while others are
considered irrational. The irrational fears are the one categorized as phobias.
Everyone has one phobia or the other, or has had to deal with one fear or the other.
I have seen macho men cringe and break out in sweat at the
sight of a rat or other rodents. I have also seen smart, intelligent and strong
women pass out at the sight of a roach or spider.
Yours truly is still putting off learning to swim because I can’t
stand water on my face and fear of being underwater (can’t even stand under a
shower; thank God for detachable shower heads!)
But funny enough I love going on ferry/boat rides. I would
overcome it, I’ll learn to swim before I’m 60; I promise (tongue in cheek)
Well, I’m not giving an expose on fear just wanted to give a
little background.
So what does God/Scriptures have to say about fear?
God’s Perspective on
Fear
I am not a certified bible scholar, just a student of
scriptures. In my limited study of scriptures, I have come across the word fear
or its synonyms a number of times. But in 90% of the times I’ve encountered it;
it has been as a warning against it.
The word “fear not” is recurrent in scriptures. It
shows up as either “fear not” or “be not afraid” why is
that? Because God knows that fear has torment!
Yes psychologists agree that there’s healthy fear but God’s
word constantly says “fear not”
Would God wire fear into man and then command him not to be
afraid? I think not!
The little illumination I got from the Holy Spirit is that
fear came in at the fall of man.
God created us in his image; “in his likeness created he
them” -Genesis 1:27
So if I have been born again, it means that I’ve gone back
to original setting –
1st Corinthians 5:17
King James Bible
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
GOD’S WORD® Translation
Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old
way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
New Living Translation
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a
new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
You may do a further study on this scripture it would bless
you.
So if the old is passed and the new is here, it means my
definition of fear and how I relate to it must change.
‘Practical Ways” of Dealing with Fear
By “practical ways” I mean psychologists’ prescription
for dealing with fear.
In the course of researching this subject, I found many
prescriptions for dealing with fear.
On the surface many of them were great. I’ll give you an
example…
1. When faced with fear, confront it; stare the fear in the
face and acknowledge it.
2. Then go away to a quiet place.
3. Empty your mind of all the negative thoughts and finally,
4. Begin to meditate on positive things. Think of green meadows,
peacefully flowing streams, birds chirping in the trees or a beautiful sunset.
Some Psychologists even recommend yoga and other methods of
meditation.
Yes, most of these prescriptions may help calm your nerves
for that moment. But do they get to the root of the fear? I dare say, NO!
My Own Coping Mechanism
There’s one thing that has helped me so far to deal with
fear. This is in addition to the tested, proven and true method of the bible.
Nobody taught me to do this, I just found myself thinking
this way. Or maybe years of walking and fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit
taught me. I can’t say categorically what prompted me to do this when fear or
one of those “what ifs” come visiting.
I gather all my what ifs, line them up before me (this is of
course an imaginary line up) .
Then I begin to ask myself what the worst case scenario
would be about those “what ifs”
So what if I’m still single in my mid to late 40’s? – What’s
the worst that can happen?
So what if I never give birth to a child?
So what if I don’t have substantial savings for retirement?
So what if I don’t have a home of my own? What if I’m still renting and can’t afford a home well into my 50s or 60s?
The list goes on and on.
By the time I line up these what ifs and answer the question
with the worst case scenario, I find that life would still go on in spite of
all the worst case scenarios.
In fact not only would life go on, life would still be
enjoyable because there’s more to life than all my “what ifs”.
God’s Prescription For Dealing with The “what If” syndrome
If you examine all the “what ifs” in your life, you’ll
discover they stem from a fear of the unknown.
I know many of us would have loved to have the entire
picture of our life’s journey. But unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.
“If only God had told me when I turned 18 that i would get
married at 45 or at 50 or not at all”.
“If only God had told me that he wanted me to be a preacher
instead of allowing me to go through all those career fails”.
“If only God had told me this”… “if only God had told me
that”.
But he has already told us all we need to know to live
fearlessly. Huh?? When did he do that?
Have you studied your user manual lately? Yep! Your user
manual; the bible.
God has a lot to say about your journey on earth and why you
don’t have to be afraid.
So when one of those monsters or perky naggings of “what if” rears up its head,
here are some scriptures to meditate upon.
When You Feel Unloved, All Alone or Uncertain and Anxious About The Future
Isaiah chapter 49 (Read and meditate on the entire chapter)
Jeremiah 29:11
Young’s Literal Translation
Wycliffe
The Webster Bible
World English Bible
For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you — an
affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you
posterity and hope.
For I know the thoughts which I think on you, saith the Lord, the
thoughts of peace, and not of torment, that I give to you an end and
patience. (For I know the thoughts which I think about you, saith the Lord,
the thoughts of peace, and not of torment, so that I shall give you a good
ending.)
For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the LORD,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.
If You Have a Wayward Ward or Child…
New International Version
English Standard Version
Berean Study Bible
New Living Translation
Isaiah 43:4-6
4 Since you are precious and
honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange
for you, nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am
with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the
west.
6 I will say to the north,
‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from
afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth
4 Because you are precious in
my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples
in exchange for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather
you.
6 I will say to the north,
Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my
daughters from the end of the earth
4Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love
you,I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life.
5Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring
from the east and gather you from the west.
6I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’And to the south, ‘Do not
hold them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.
5 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your
children from east and west.
6 I will say to the north and south, ‘Bring my sons and daughters
back to Israel from the distant
corners of the earth
Isaiah 54:13
All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their
peace.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the
peace of your children
Then all your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be
their prosperity.
I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace
When You Fear Impending Shame or Public Embarrassment
New International Version
English Standard Version
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)
New Living Translation
Isaiah 54:3 & 4
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your
descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
4 “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will
not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the
reproach of your widowhood.
3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your
offspring will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.
4 “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you
will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your
widowhood you will remember no more.
3 For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and
your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be
inhabited.
4 Fear not, for you shall not be ashamed; neither be confounded and
depressed, for you shall not be put to shame. For you shall forget the shame
of your youth, and you shall not [seriously] remember the reproach of your
widowhood any more.
3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations and resettle the ruined
cities.
4 “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no
more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth and the sorrows
of widowhood.
Matthew 6:26
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store
away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more
valuable than they?
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more
value than they?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather
into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not
worth much more than they?
26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in
barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable
to him than they are?
1st Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you
Amplified Bible (AMP)
7 casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and
all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with
deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
Classic Edition
7 Casting the [a]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your
worries, all your concerns, [b]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you
affectionately and cares about you [c]watchfully.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Conclusion
“What ifs” would rob you of all the joy that God
has for you in the here and now.
God’s got you covered so go ahead and enjoy life!
Yes you heard me; enjoy life! Sing a little louder! Dance more often! Work hard and play hard! Explore new interests and pursue adventure (within Godly limits of course)
Hear Solomon in Ecclesiastes 8:15…
New International Version
So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing
better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy
will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them
under the sun.
New Living Translation
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better
for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will
experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the
sun.
Berean Study Bible
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is
nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For
this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God
gives him under the sun.
The Message Bible
So, I’m all for just going ahead and having a good time –
the best possible. The only earthly good men and women can look forward to is
to eat and drink well and have a good time – compensation for the struggle for
survival these few years God gives us on earth.
Solomon had a very adventurous life before he ended up
saying “vanity upon vanity, all is vanity”
Do not wake up one day with all your teeth gone and your
eyes dim only to discover that life has passed you by. Then you become a bitter
old man or woman!
Leave all the “what ifs” at the master’s feet and skip along
with no worries; Yes no worries!
The latebloomercenter.com is a christian site and everything we do or say is premised on the word of God.
The bible said that spiritual things cannot be discerned by the physical senses. This means that you cannot understand or appreciate God’s word with the five senses. You have to be tuned to the right frequency to get the right signals. Therefore everything we say on this site can only make sense to you and bless you if you are tuned to the right frequency
How then can you be tuned to the right frequency? By becoming spiritually alive and this can only happen when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior.
Accepting and receiving Jesus into your heart is an act of your will; a conscious act. And you do this by believing and confessing.
First step is acknowledging that you are a sinner. This idea throws a lot of “good” people. But note that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God “- Romans 3:23.
You are a sinner because you were born into the Adamic nature not because of what you have done. So to become a child of God, all you need to do is receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior.
You cannot get to God through good deeds or behavior – You must accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior .
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
Acts 4:12,Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 16:30-31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
These are a few bible verses to help you understand more about your need for salvation and how to be saved.
If you have never made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, you need to do so now!
Pray this prayer …
Prayer For Salvation
Father I come to you in the name of Jesus.I know you are willing to accept me as your child and that you will not turn me away based on your word. Today I confess that I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God and that he died for my sin just as the bible said.
I believe that he was raised from the dead for my justification. I believe that because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I am made right with God.
So today I confess that I accept what Jesus did on the cross for me to be saved and I confess with my mouth that I am saved. I am no longer a sinner. I am saved! I am a child of God!
Thank you father God for accepting me into your kingdom. I am now a new creature old things are passed away, all things have become new (2nd Corinthians 5:17 ) in Jesus’ name . Amen!
Welcome to the family of God
For further help or counselling you can reach out to us in the comments section or by email to chisomodimba @gmail.com.
I wear glasses and so have difficulty staring at
light/screens or reading up close without them. I remember one day that I forgot
my glasses at home and went off to work. When I got to the office my assistant
offered me her glasses (she wears glasses too)
One would think that my problem was solved but no! I brought
her glasses close to my face and felt dizzy and woozy. Wow! What happened? I thought
glasses are meant to help you see or read better?
Yep they are! But you have to have the right prescription.
That brings me to my thoughts for today
Here’s what the Holy Spirit showed me from the book of 2nd Corinthians 4-16-18.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 The Message (MSG)
16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
IT OFTEN LOOKS LIKE …
Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s not really what it
looks like?” Hmmm! If you’ve been in a relationship with an unfaithful partner,
you would have heard this often (ouch!).
But do you know that sometimes, this phrase really explains
the situation? Sometimes things are not the way they appear at first sight. Take
a second look.
Our perception of circumstances and situations might be faulty… It all depends on what lens you are looking through.
Everything would seem to be wrong or falling apart when you
look through the eyes of popular opinion or worldly philosophy.
The lens of the world tells you that you are a lost cause. It
tells you that your mates have gone far ahead of you. It can also tell you that
life is no longer worth living; what are you still living for? You can never
get married, you can never have that baby, you can never be a financial success,
you can never… you can never… you can never!!
That’s what you see when you look through the eye of the flesh.
But when you look at things through the lens of God’s word, you see that all things are working together for your good.
When you get the right lens, you become an overcomer. And
the overcomer does not look at the things that are seen; he looks at the
unseen.
God’s word cannot be interpreted with the physical eyes. Case in point, God’s word says you are healed; the symptoms tell you that you are sick- reference the boy that Jesus healed in Mark 9:14-29 (you can read the whole passage later)
Let’s just check out this part
22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him.
But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for
one who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe;
help me overcome my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he
rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you,
come out of him and never enter him again.”
26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came
out. The boy looked so much like a
corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he
stood up.
What it seemed like was death, but what it really was, was
life!
Get the right lens; readjust your focus and look again.
Every day of consistently gazing unflinchingly on the word
of God works a depth of grace that can’t be quantified.
Put on the right lens, focus on the promises of God and get
set for a lavish celebration.
When I was a little girl, I always dreamt of being a big girl. I fantasized about a wedding and all the paparazzi and fanfare that go into the day.
As I turned 18, I began to develop a sense of purpose. I
knew that my life consisted of more than a husband and children. My university days were filled with a
certainty that I was fulfilling purpose. In spite of all the ups and downs I
experienced, I still believed that I was making a positive impact in my sphere
of influence.
Fast forward to the year I was to turn 40! I had braved the
30’s as a single woman, endured the trials and enjoyed the triumphs. And I felt
I was ready for the 40’s.
Then that day dawned; the day I turned 40. And I realized I wasn’t as ready as I thought. It hit me real hard! Physically, I didn’t look a day older than 30 (I gat pictures to prove…tongue in cheek).
But where it mattered (in my mind and soul) I felt wow! This
is it! Where do I go from here?
Realities of Life After 40
Like I said, I felt that I was prepared for my 40’s but when
it came… Phew!
I’d had some health, career, financial and emotional issues
before then. But now they seemed to have grown in magnitude.
Wait a minute. Did I tell you that I was scheduled to go in
for a second surgery a month after my 40th birthday? Is that a sob or a sigh I
hear from someone? Don’t cry for me just yet. That’s not the end of my story. (Watch
this space; there’s more glory ahead!)
True, life presents us with a lot of hard facts by the time
we turn 40. We’ll discuss some of them. But know that there’s always a pro and
con to every situation in life. We must
always learn to look out for the good.
Health in Life After
40
There are so many articles both offline and online on health
issues after 40. From mental health, to
cardiovascular health, to cholesterol and high blood pressure issues; the list
goes on. They are almost too many to enumerate.
You are advised to watch what you eat, exercise regularly
and get a good night’s sleep; among other expert advices. These advices didn’t
seem too relevant when you were 30 or less. But now it seems to be the
“holy grail” for life in the 40s and beyond. Sounds trite but that’s
the reality of life on the fourth floor (wink).
Truth be told, you have a lot to be thankful for if all you
have to deal with is watching what you eat, exercising regularly and sleeping
well.
Some folks have a lot more health issues to deal with at
this point in their lives
Body Issues of Life
After 40
Hmmmmm! this part is very painful; especially for ladies. A
friend and I saw one of our old buddies (same age bracket) and he was looking
buff.
She goes “it’s not fair” why do men become more
dignified with age and women just age? I’ve heard that many times and though I
may not be of the same opinion, that’s one reality of the 40s for women.
The once petite babe of the 90’s now has a rounded stomach
and some stretch marks. Trophies from 2, 3 or 4 trips to the labor ward and 3
to 12 months of breastfeeding. Wrinkles start to appear on a once smooth face
and the single ladies start freaking out about ever getting married.
Tall, dark and handsome now has some grays at the temple and
a one pack (solidly in the midsection lol) that he does his best to hide.
These are actually the least of body issues; we know there
are more serious body issues.
Well no matter how wonderful your genes are. No matter the
level of discipline you maintain in every area of life. You can never look the
same in your 40s as you did in your teens and 20s… Deal with it!
Sexuality
Mmmmmh not an expert on this but let me tell you what I heard. I heard that the get up and go in this department is not as it was in the 20s (especially for guys); just repeating hearsay.
But I’m sure all of us have experienced or are experiencing one issue or the other in this area. I hope we know that sexuality covers a wide range of issues? Just checking…
Mid Life Crisis
Tell me about it! Emotions and moods swing from one end of the pendulum to the other. People make crazy decisions that even they are in awe of.
Some people’s marriages break up due to a lack of understanding of what’s happening to them. Others wreck careers and relationships that have been built over the years. While some folks go into depression; the list goes on
Mid life crisis manifests in different ways. Each individual
experiences it in unique ways. Some even experience it without knowing what
they are going through.
Finance
This is usually a tough season for mid lifers who have kids.
At this stage most families are seeing kids through college or preparing to.
Some others also have mortgages and some debts that are not fully paid off.
If you are unfortunate to be unemployed at this age, you
find that the competition to get a job is stiffer. Some 40s plus have had to take
a pay cut just to have regular incomes. Those who couldn’t get jobs have had to
resort to self employment and entrepreneurship.
All these coupled with preparing for retirement are serious financial realities.
Career
By mid or late 40s,
many folks are well advanced in their careers. Some begin to plateau while
others fight to stay relevant in the fast paced corporate world.
Those who are not so fortunate feel that they can’t start
anything at this point in their lives. Is it even possible to start dreaming
again at this age? Can one start a new career after 40?
Preparing for Life
After 40
Throw Out All Rules
We have talked about some of the realities of life after 40. There are so many research findings and studies on preparing for life after 40. So much so that many people are confused by conflicting advises and opinions.
What does one do in the face of all these ideas, theories
and positions? Do I bury my head in the sand like the ostrich and believe that
life would sort itself out? Is there any authority on how one should prepare
for life after 40?
Can I share a life changing truth with you? Read all the
articles, research findings, books and all on life after 40. Attend all the
seminars, conferences and events that you can. Listen to financial, health and
marriage advice.
Finally, throw them all out!
From the Inside Out
Preparing for life after 40 starts from the inside out. Remember
our rule about coming back to what the bible says about every issue?
Yep! We are back to the basics. The bible says that as a man
thinketh in his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).
You need a paradigm shift to embrace and live the good life
even till you are 120!
Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it are the
issues of life( Proverbs 4:23KJV) World
English Bible translates it thus ” Keep your heart with all diligence, for
out of it is the wellspring of life”
You need to watch what goes into your heart and what takes
up residence in you. Every day, we build strongholds in our minds one thought
at a time.
So many people live in morbid fear of ageing, fear of not
meeting goals or targets. Or not living up to societal expectations. Stop
already!
It is imperative that you understand that your life is yours
to live for God and not society. Am I saying you should be irresponsible and
not plan your life? Definitely not!
You totally need to prepare for life after 40 but with one
thought in mind; God is the author and finisher of your faith.
We are so obsessed with goal setting and planning that most
of us leave God out of the equation. Ponder Proverbs 16:9 for a minute (I’ll
show different translations)
Contemporary English
Version
We make our own plans, but the LORD decides where we will
go.
New Living
Translation
We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
Berean Study Bible
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his
steps.
New International
Version
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes
their steps.
English Standard
Version
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his
steps.
King James Bible
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his
steps.
Conclusion
For the 40s and above living their dreams, I rejoice with
you and ask that you share your success stories with others. Not as a yardstick
or standard for living but as encouragement.
If you are in your 40s already and didn’t plan your life, it’s never too late to dream again, set goals and start over. You can pull down wrong mindsets that have told you that a fool at 40 is a fool forever. Your story can be that life begins at 40; With God all things are possible.
But if you are yet to hit 40, blessed are you. Hopefully, you do not have many regrets like some ahead of you. And can begin or continue to build up positive strongholds that would withstand the onslaught of midlife.
Did you think I was going to give you some “expert”
ideas on how to plan for mid life? Ooops! Sorry. I just wanted to bring you back
to the basics.
But not to worry; stay with us as we shall be bringing
expert advice, tips and what to do at this point in your life.
We would also be sharing bible passages that would help
build your faith and establish positive strongholds and mindsets.
Enjoying Life After 40
I’m in my 6th soon to be 7th year on the 4th floor of life. Have all my expectations been met? Am I living my dream without regrets or what ifs? Not entirely.
But one thing I can confidently tell you is this; life can
indeed begin at 40.
God can restore all that’s been stolen from you. I was blessed by this line from The Insight Daily devotional by Pst Temi Odejide.
I hear someone say “but I wasted my youth” Remember the prodigal son? (Luke 15:11-32).
Another may say “life has been so unfair to me”
Remember Ruth? (Study the entire book of Ruth in the Bible).
Yet some other may say “I had a bad start in life and could
never catch a break” Consider Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).
Hindsight they say is 20/20 but it doesn’t have to impede
your progress. You do not have to live in regret, bitterness or even past
glories. You can employ the lessons of
the past to enjoy the present and future.
Do you have stories, experiences, comments or questions? We’d
love to hear from you in the comments section.
My name is Chisomeje Odimba; Chisom for short. I am a
Sociologist by training, a caterer, baker and writer by vocation and a teacher
by calling.
My Story So Far…
I am 46 and counting and single. I thought I’d be married by
now. Scratch that. I thought my last child would be getting ready for college
by now but here I am still single! I thought I’d be a successful minister or at
the top of a successful career ladder. I thought I’d have my retirement locked
down. I thought…, I thought…, I thought! Phew!
Okay, I’m not here to moan. That’s just life. Stuff happens.
Different strokes for different folks.
Personally, I am not crazy distraught about not being
married or a mother yet. However society constantly transfers agitation on
status to me that it’s a blur between where my genuine frustration stops and
theirs starts.
Concerning career and ministry, there are times when I feel
the frustration creep in. So I’ve got to get some method out of this madness,
some rhythm to this rhyme and some message out of this mess.
I’ve been to the mountains and through the valleys and
through it all have received comfort from God.
So according to 2nd Corinthians 1:4, I endeavor to comfort
others with the comfort that I have received from God.
Reason For thelatebloomercenter.com
This blog is not a pity party avenue. We don’t do sob
stories here. Neither do we engage in gender bashing… or any kind of bashing
at all!
I’m here for all my fellow late bloomers out there. I still believe, after all, I am a believer.
With the increasing pressure to compromise and swipe left, I still stay true to the Word of God. So whatever we might discuss here, we will be real. We will be honest. But we will always come back to what does God have to say about that. Is that okay? (Well, even if it isn’t okay with you, sorry but it’s my blog, so my rules!)
Target audience and
Focus
This is a community of likeminded Christians. People who
have crossed over the midlife threshold or are close it.
The primary purpose of this blog is to bring our focus back
to God in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.
To allow us to dream again; get a second wind and soar
again!
Would it be “life begins at 40” or “A fool at
40 is a fool forever? It’s your life! Your choice!
Whatever you make of it is what it would be. But we are here
to help you; to encourage you and to show you through God’s word that it’s
possible!
Posts, Guest Posts, Feedback and Interactions
I’ll be posting new content to the site bi-weekly.
Although I am the host of this site, I’ll have guest posts, interviews and other external resources for you my dear readers.
We also welcome feedback and comments because as I mentioned earlier, we are a community.
Remember that the bible says that as iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens another. So we hope you’ll make out time to drop comments or feedback and also ask questions.
Once again, welcome and fasten your seat belt for a journey into discovering a world of possibilities.
