I’m currently in the throes of a midlife crisis. I’d say they’re common to men after 35. Maybe I’m wrong about that, but my friend group and my personal experience lead me to believe it.
Midlife crises are excellent opportunities to make needed, good changes. They’re not opportunities to leave your wife and find a younger woman.
When I was 35, we bought 38 acres of land. When I was 36, we started a garden and orchard on that land. When I was 41, we moved onto that land. I’m 43 now. I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m currently dealing with another wave of perceived failure.
I’m not sure what the spiritual element is; what is the purpose of going through these crises?
If we look to God, we are to serve him. The Westminster shorter catechism says, “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
With that in mind, when dealing with these lows, I am reminded that “the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” So, when I am in this rut, how do I glorify God? How do I enjoy him? I’m struggling not to snap at everyone and sit in my own mud puddle of self-pity and misery.
The first thing I can do is not take it out on others; it isn’t their fault that my emotions are in a swing and that I feel like an abject failure. This is something I frequently fail at; and did so today.
The second thing I can do is run to God. Really, it’s the first thing I should do, but I’m being candid here: it wasn’t my first thought. Run to God. He’s allowing this situation to happen for His glory and my good. I’ve worked at reminding myself that I need to be thankful in all situations, especially these. If this is meant for my correction, then I am to be thankful that my Father loves me enough to correct me. If for my growth, then I am to be thankful for His opportunities to stretch into new ways to glorify Him.
That’s all for now. I need to go offer up some apologies.