Today I turn 45. For the most part, it feels like just another regular day, but there’s no denying that this firmly places me in my mid-forties. That sounds older than I feel, because really, I don’t feel much different than I did in my mid-thirties. In fact, I know that I am in better health now than I was at 35. Still, birthdays have a way of making us reflect. They remind us that time keeps ticking forward, and with it comes change and opportunity. Things are certainly changing for me, and with that, I see some great opportunities ahead, too.

The Scriptures help us see that aging is not something to be feared or dreaded. It is part of God’s plan for every one of us. There are progressive seasons that are inevitably going to come.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”.

The Scriptures remind us that aging carries a particular kind of honor and blessings. While our culture often chases after youth, God gives value to wisdom and depth that comes with more experience.

Proverbs 16:31 – “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life”.

Each stage of life (twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, and beyond) brings new lessons, and with age comes opportunities to apply those lessons for God’s glory. Looking back on my life, I can now see where the Lord has carried me through tough times and challenges. I have been given the opportunities to learn so many things, and those lessons have shaped me in ways that only time and experience can. Aging is not about losing value, but about stepping into new opportunities of guidance, encouragement, and faith.

Most importantly, the passing of time reminds me that this world is not my home; I’m just a passing through. Paul says, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16). While our bodies are changing, our spirit can grow stronger in Christ.

Turning 45 isn’t about acknowledging another year has come and gone. It is about trusting that God is still renewing me, still using me in ways that I did not think were possible. I believe He is preparing me for eternity. Aging is simply a reminder that life is moving according to God’s plan, and that His plan is always leading us closer to Him.

Blessings!

Alex Mills