Purpose doesn’t retire!

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age… and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38

Life is full of seasons. Things change. Kids grow up, careers develop, responsibilities pile up, and eventually, some of those responsibilities get handed over. Sometimes that change is exciting. Sometimes it is just really tough. And sometimes we simply find ourselves asking, what does God actually want me to do in this season?

This is a fact: stepping out of one season never means God is done with your purpose.

Anna gives us such a clear picture of this. She was advanced in years and had been a widow for decades, but her life remained completely devoted to God through fasting and prayer. When Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus into the temple, Anna recognised him instantly. She gave thanks right then and there, and started speaking about him to everyone waiting for redemption in Jerusalem.

What is so striking about Anna is that she did not let the different stages or events of her life dictate her usefulness to God. She was a widow, but widowhood did not make her useless. She was getting on a bit in years, but old age did not make her irrelevant. Her circumstances changed, but her devotion to God did not budge.

Anna did not allow what had happened to her, or the season she was currently in, to determine what God could still do through her.

And that is the bigger lesson for the rest of us.

It is so easy to let a season of life turn into our entire identity. We start thinking, I am too young, I am too old, I am too busy, I am too inexperienced, or I am just too knackered. I have already done my bit, or maybe, my best days are behind me.

But God is not limited by the season you are in.

Our usefulness to him is not measured by our age, job title, status, or how rammed our daily diary looks. Over a lifetime, God builds faith, wisdom, and experience inside us that can become a proper blessing to others. You carry stories of God’s faithfulness that only you can tell, prayers that only you can pray, and insights someone else desperately needs to hear because of the path you have walked.

“They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.” Psalm 92:14

The psalmist says:

“O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.” Psalm 71:17-18

Notice the progression there. God taught him from his youth, he declared God’s works throughout his life, and even in old age, he still wanted to declare God’s strength to another generation.

That is purpose.

Purpose is not confined to one age, one career, one ministry position, or one season of life.

Now, God does bring specific assignments to an end at times. Moses handed leadership over to Joshua. David passed the kingdom to Solomon. Paul eventually finished his work on earth. But the end of a specific role never means God has finished his work in your life.

You can step away from a position without stepping away from your devotion to Christ. You can leave a career behind without leaving your calling to serve him. You can hand responsibility to someone else without becoming spiritually irrelevant.

Your contribution might look different in this season, but different does not mean insignificant.

Maybe you are raising children who need to see Christ in you. Maybe you are starting a new career, learning something completely new, or mentoring someone. Maybe you are stepping into leadership, or maybe you are stepping out of it. Maybe you have retired and are sitting there sorting out what comes next.

Whatever season you find yourself in, there is still something God can do through your life.

You might have more time to pray. You might have wisdom that can save someone from a mistake you once made. You might have walked through a brutal season and discovered the faithfulness of God in a way that someone else desperately needs to hear right now.

So ask yourself: What has God taught me that I can share with someone else? What has he brought me through that could encourage someone who is still right in the middle of it? Who can I pray for? Who can I encourage? Who can I disciple? Who can I help to see Jesus a bit more clearly?

Anna stayed faithful, so when her moment arrived, she was ready.

That should really challenge us.

Are we so focused on what has changed, what we have lost, or what we can no longer do that we are failing to recognise what God can still do through us?

Do not measure your usefulness by how busy you are. Do not measure it by your age or your position either.

There is still fruit in you to bear. There is still wisdom to share. There are still prayers to pray. There are still people to encourage. There is still a generation that needs to hear what God has done.

Your position may change. Your routine may change. Your responsibilities may change.

Just keep your heart available to God.

The purpose of your life was never found in a position you held anyway. It is found in belonging to Christ and faithfully responding to whatever he places right in front of you.

Let the season shift. Let the assignment change. Let the pace change.

Keep serving Christ. Purpose doesn’t retire.

Kay Alli