facing perils of aging, God's love is constant

Billy Graham in his book nearing home: life, faith, and finishing well on page 87 he began talking about four Hidden perils as we get older. 

They are fear, anxiety and depression, anger, and loneliness. From his perspective at 92 when he wrote this its’ a pretty good list.

His appeal to move from over focusing our attention to our illness which has a way of making us self-centered to focus on Christ and get support from other believers is a good idea. Know the truth of God’s love through trials, sickness and even death is constant. God is there what ever our experience. Citing 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

The solid promise in Romans 8:35ff, 35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

When I was in the mental hospital being treated for anxiety and depression I spent at least a half hour each night in prayer and Bible reading and I had a strong sense that God was with me. There were a lot of things that I was learning in the daytime. And there was work being done emotionally throughout the day. It was pretty similar to when I've being in the hospital recovering from surgery. Each day had its own unique way of healing and you do end up working with hospital staff as you heal. But in the same way there was a time of reflection and meditation and prayer. I find it helpful to focus on one truth time when your body is in chaos and healing. Keep it simple.

But each of our hidden perils may take some special care and treatment. Since 25% of us will be dealing with depression and anxiety as we age, we need to understand in the same way that we have problems with our heart, some part of our body, aches and pains, all kinds of sicknesses; we should not be surprised that mentally we have problems as well. Medicine can be a big help here.

Anxiety and depression and even anger can all be connected. And sometimes we just cannot deal with these things on our own. Consider putting a mental health professional on your medical team. 

Loneliness as well and be very real as we age. We all will lose people. Dealing with grief and experiencing loss is one of the major problems we face in life. We need to regularly make new friends and stay involved with the people we know for all these experiences. 

Dr. Graham's counsel to find ways to help others is one way to turn our tragedies into gems. Being sick can make us very self-centered. Part of it maybe God’s way to help us focus ourselves to heal. But there is a joy not just looking at your own interests but also the interests of others. Showing the love of Christ even in our illness can lift us up emotionally. 

We do have perils that we face when we get older. Sometimes it can be hard. Sometimes our focus needs to pay attention to it. But in the background of it God wants to teach us many things. It seems high on God's agenda his teaching us to forgive others and reach out to meet other needs even somewhat while we are selves for suffering. 

There is nothing wrong to focus our attention to the healing and care that we need. Mental health is more than just being considered crazy. It is really about practical ways to understand our brains as we age and take care of them when they need it. 

And always remember that nothing can help the brain more than good exercise, good food and plenty of water. Keep on walking.