I Feel Useless as I Grow Older. Am I Still Valuable to God?

As we grow older, it can come with all kinds of different emotions. One of those can be a lack of feeling useful. As our strength fades and we begin to lose the vibrancy of our youth, we can struggle with feelings of uselessness. 

What does the Bible have to say about this? As we age, are we still valuable to God?

Our Intrinsic Value as Children of God

Our worth and value in God’s eyes are NOT determined by age. No matter how strong we are or what we’re still capable of accomplishing, God loves us just the same. His feelings for us are not determined by anything we are doing or not doing. Our relationship with God is NOT performance-based! 

1 Samuel 16:7 reads, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God loves you for your heart. He knows those special qualities that make you the beautiful and unique individual that you are, for He placed them there in the first place. That’s what matters to God. 

1 John 3:1 reads, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” When the Apostle John wrote these words, he was an aged man. Yet, he still called himself a child of God. Age is more than a number: it’s about how we see ourselves, and most importantly, how God sees us. No matter how old we get, we are still children of God, cherished and beloved by Him. 

Our God-Given Purpose is NOT Tied to Our Age

The story of Abraham and Sarah shows us clearly that our God-given purpose is NOT tied to our age. Genesis 18:10-14 reads: 

“Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!”

Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son, even though they were old: Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 when their son Isaac was born! Even though God’s promise seemed impossible to them because of their age, God made it a reality nonetheless. 

The fulfillment of this promise led to their God-given purpose of being the beginning of the family line that would bring about God’s chosen people, the Israelites. Age didn’t stop God from bringing about the fulfillment of Abraham and Sarah’s purpose, despite their age. Never doubt the amazing things can do through you, no matter what age you are. 

The Bible Elevates the Aging

The Bible speaks highly of older people, citing their age, wisdom, and life experience. Proverbs 16:31 reads, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” The Bible never diminishes the value of older people. In fact, God’s Word usually elevates age and experience over youth! 

Not only that, but the Bible instructs us to respect and honor older people. Leviticus 19:32 reads, “Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.” Also, so many of the wise, biblical figures we revere in God’s Word are older by the time we meet them in the Bible! And we find that they have incredibly wise things to teach us about God in the midst of their story. 

Though our bodies may be aging, as long as we walk in an intimate relationship with God, He will continually renew us on the inside. 2 Corinthians 4:16 reads, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” God is preparing our souls for the life to come, when we will no longer have to worry about aging and the limitations of our earthly bodies. Yes, you are still valuable to God no matter what age you are and He loves you more than you could ever comprehend.