The Second Half of Life

 In football there are two halves, the first half and the second half. Both of the them are important for winning the game. However, a team can do very badly in the first half and get way behind on the scoreboard and still come back to win the game in the second half. That is a good analogy for us to use to think about our own lives. No matter how the first half of life has gone, the second half can be much better.

That is exactly what God did for Job after allowing Job to lose his family, possessions, and his health. Job was discouraged for a while because of his loses and his suffering, but God came to his rescue. (Job 42:12) The Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. Job ended up having twice as many sheep, camels, oxen, and female donkeys. Also, his family was restored and greatly blessed. That shows what the power and the love of God can do for us all in the second half of life.

The first half of your life may have gone very well. Perhaps you have had a great family life, a successful career, and good health. Please, don't just relax and put your life on autopilot. The Lord can still make the second half even better, if you will listen to Him and be willing to make adjustments in your life for His glory. As long as God leaves us here, He has something for us to do, and after we are older, we have even more wisdom and experience to do His will, if we have been following Him well.

If the first half of your life has gone badly, there is still hope for a great second half. God can rebuild and restore families to be better than ever before. He can give opportunities for a better job and more income. God can bring healing to you after years of pain, just like He did for Job. The key is for you to keep praying, keep trusting God, and never give up on doing His will as He reveals it to you. Greater things could be just around the corner, if you seek the Lord with all your heart and admit your mistakes and pray for your friends, like Job had to do. Remember, God loves you, and He has a wonderful plan for your life.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 3-5.