Well, another birthday has come and gone. I remember talking to my mother on my 40th birthday. She asked me, "What does it feel like to be 40?"

My cruel response to her was to ask, "Well, what does it feel like to have a son who is 40?"

Don’t worry. She wasn’t offended. She replied, "Yeah, you got me," and we laughed together.

Well, 40 is far back in the rearview mirror today. I was still playing basketball two days a week at 40. I know better than to walk into a gym where I can hear the sound of dribbling today. I might be tempted to test my game, and I know that I will pay for it.

It is interesting, the perspective one gets as the birthdays pass by. I can’t do some things that I once did without thinking. But I also have wisdom that I did not have back in the day. I have more knowledge today than ever.

There are disadvantages to growing older, but it’s not all negative.

The prophet Isaiah spoke about our walk with God at the end of chapter 40 in his book. The final verse of that chapter speaks of those who trust in the Lord.

He writes, "They will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

At first glance some might think those verbs are in reverse order, but that is not the case. In our youth we soar with the eagles. As young and middle age adults we run without growing weary. And as we age, we have to slow to a walk, but still we have the promise that we will not faint as we trust in the Lord.

Many years ago, an older pastor challenged me with words I cannot forget. He said it is important that you finish well. The fact is that I’m not as fast as I once was. I can’t jump as high. But I can still move, both physically and spiritually. And I want to meet the challenge to finish well.

I think I still have many years before I finish. But if I am to finish well, I need to continue to walk in the way that God has called. I challenge you, no matter your age, to commit to finish well.

God has promised to be with you each step of the way. You can finish well as you trust in him.