Midlife Crisis and the Bible

Midlife crisis,

"a loss of self-confidence and feeling of anxiety or disappointment that can occur in early middle age."

Generally, midlife crisis occurs between ages 45 - 55. But, I would say midlife crisis can occur at any age. Or how do we explain a frustrated Engineering Graduate who works as an unskilled labour due to unemployment?

These days, twentysomethings are not far from midlife crisis.

What does the Bible say about midlife crisis? How does one go about a dashed dream at twentysomething?

Apart from what you know, what else has the story of Ruth thought you?

Ruth 1-4 tells us of the story of a young Moabite lady, Ruth, who lost her husband at a very young age. Ruth, then went with her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her home in Judah.

Thinking about it, Ruth was a young lady facing a midlife crisis. She was a widow without a child. We do not know what hopes and dreams got shattered along with the death of her husband. However, we can say that a lot of her dreams were dashed. She chose to follow her mother-in-law because she had nothing else to gain by staying in Moab. All had been lost with the death of her husband.

Ruth was a lady experiencing midlife crisis.

How did she overcome this crisis to become fulfilled? Ruth fulfilled her destiny despite all losses. Ruth is one of the women in the Lineage of Christ.

• Ruth started her life all over again. She began the journey called life again. She moved to a new town and started with a newness of everything. She was not afraid to try life again. 

• She, a former Wife, became an "housemaid" to her mother-in-law. Housemaid in this context meant that, she became lowly in heart. She humbled herself, leaving behind any remaining pride and glory of Moab. 

• She listened to instructions anew. All Ruth needed was the right information. She listened to her mother-in-law and obeyed instructions. Those instructions later paid off for life.

Are you experiencing a midlife crisis somewhere? Do you have a dashed dream? And are you still very young and under forty?

If yes, then you need to draw lessons from this story of Ruth. Take that exam. So what if you have failed numerous times before? Seek instructions from people who have excelled in that course and take the exam again. 

Pursue your dream in the name of the LORD. Seek counsel. If you have to relocate to avoid the stigma of starting life afresh, then, under God, relocate.
 2 Chronicles 15:7. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Whatever talents the LORD has given you, do not bury (Matthew 25: 14-30). Do not bury that dream God has given you simply because your first husband died, just like Sister Ruth. It is never too late to start again.

May the Spirit of the LORD impress his Will upon your heart.

Shalom.