My friend is a retired missionary and accomplished pianist. She has traveled the world sharing her gift of music. Now, playing the piano is a challenge and often she struggles to call to mind things that she taught for over 50 years. For example, today she commented that I was speaking "allegro" (a musical term for "fast.") I asked her the word for "slow" and it took her longer than she thought it should to finally remember "adagio". It is moments like this that my friend says "I have nothing more to give." She feels useless as she sees the gift she's shared for so many years fading away.
It is not unusual for people to begin to feel this way as they age, but this feeling is not unique to the elderly. We all have gifts that God has given us and talents that we've gained through training and hard work. These gifts and talents can become our identity and our foundation can be shaken when something hinders us from giving in the way we have in the past.
I remind my friend that we all go through seasons in life where the way we give needs to take on a new form. It is important that we focus on how God would choose to work through us today, rather than mourning over the fact that we can't give in the way we did yesterday. As long as we are on this earth, we can trust that God has a perfect plan for how He would like to work in and through us to bring honor to His Name and to draw others unto Himself.
We must remember that our identity is in who we are not what we do. We are God's children and, as such, we are of great value to Him. In each and every season of our lives, He has a plan and a purpose for us. We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's leading as He reveals the new way we can give of ourselves for His service today.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart,~ Proverbs 19:21
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
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