Some folks find it easier to explain the stages of life through experience rather than the textbook version that takes us from infancy to adulthood. The twenties? That’s the testing ground. This is the season of wild risks and questionable decisions. We haven’t quite figured out exactly who we are and what we want yet, and we’re more willing to do some really out-there stuff and make crazy mistakes. The thirties are the bounce-back years. We’ve taken some hits, learned a few lessons from our mistakes, and we’re starting to move with a little more wisdom. Then come the forties—this is the settling-in stage. Life gets real about what it is and what it’s not. That’s when it really hits us—life ain’t playing.
The fifties come with some grounding truths—stuff we coulda-shoulda learned earlier, but we were just too busy lifing to slow down and seek them out. By now, we’re facing the reality that we didn’t always chase wisdom like we should have. We lacked the motivation in our earlier seasons to do the deep work that would’ve helped us be more, have more, and move better. Spiritual growth wasn’t always swift or steady—and now, we’re starting to feel the weight of that. The missed prayers, the rushed decisions, the spiritual shortcuts… they come with a cost.
But here’s the truth—even if it doesn’t look that way to most of us, the fifties don’t have to be some settling stage where regret and resentment creep in like a dark cloud. It doesn’t have to be the decade where we sit in what could’ve been or drown in the weight of past mistakes.
God has a way of flipping the script, even when we think the credits are about to roll. He doesn’t need a perfect past to give you a powerful future. The fifties—and every season after—can be a time of fresh oil, fresh vision, and a deeper intimacy in our relationship with Him. Joel 2:25 (NLT) says, “The Lord says, ‘I will give you back what you lost…’” That means what you thought was wasted time, missed purpose, or broken dreams—God can restore it.
You’re not too old to dream again. Not too late to grow spiritually. Not too far off to be aligned with God’s purpose for your life. When your soul says yes to God, He knows how to accelerate what felt delayed. He knows how to breathe life into dry places. You may not be where you thought you’d be by now, but if you’re still here, that means God’s not finished. Your future is still bright—because He’s still in it.
Don’t count yourself out. Don’t you do it. Don’t let age, disappointment, or delay convince you that you’ve missed your moment. You’re not too late—you’re right on time for what God is doing next. Proverbs 4:18 (MSG) says, “The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine.” This season might look different than what you imagined, but it’s not less than. It’s a setup for something greater, something more rooted, more refined, and more intentional. God’s not asking you to rewind the past—He’s inviting you to trust Him with what’s ahead. Just keep walking with Him, He’ll show you that your brightest days weren’t behind you—they’re unfolding right now. Keep the faith! ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright ©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
“Your Future Is Bright”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.