Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’ (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth –

– Remember that you are created (Psalm 139:14)

– Remember you are a child of God (Romans 8:16; 1 John 3:1)

– Remember are beloved and chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

– Remember your identity

The list can go on and on, but we remember and meditate on these things so that – as the days and years pass, we do not reach a point where we say, ‘I have no pleasure in them,’ ‘I find no joy in life,’ ‘I find no purpose in life.’

We remember our Creator, and that we are created, and we remember our identity so that we can say –

 – I find pleasure in life

 – I find joy in life

 – I find purpose in life (Ephesians 1:11-12)

We can find joy and pleasure and purpose in life when we focus on our Creator and the identity He has given us. When I do not meditate on God and the identity He has given me through His Word, I lose my joy and purpose.

Young People – Solomon implores us to do this in our youth because it is easier to fall away in our youth, but it is also easier to really take time to focus on Him and our identity. Cling to God, your Creator, and search for your identity in the scriptures. Additionally, you must seek out an older person in your life who does find joy and purpose in their life. See how they did it, ask them for wisdom, seek their counsel. This will solidify your identity and purpose in God (Proverbs 22:6, Matthew 7:24-27).

In-Between People – You may not feel young and you may not feel old, but it’s not too late. You may feel lost with seemingly no identity and no purpose – but first seek God and He will show you your identity in the scriptures, and your purpose will follow naturally (Ephesians 1:11-12). The same applies to you, find an elder who finds joy and purpose in life so that you can learn from the paths they have already walked and partake in their wisdom. Be humble and teachable before them (1 Peter 1:1-5).

Older People – If you already feel like you are in the evil days of ‘I find no pleasure in life,’ it is still not too late. You can still turn to God and seek God and He will be faithful and show you your identity in the scriptures and you can still have purpose in life. I am confident that He who began a good work in you will see it through to completion (Philippians 1:6).

And, older people, if you do find joy and pleasure and purpose in life, thank you from the bottom of my heart for fighting the good fight to focus on God and seek your identity in Him. I sincerely admire you. And I also sincerely implore you….please keep doing what you are doing in your walk with God and in seeking His heart. Do not become weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9) for there is a harvest to be gathered. Please, please find a young person or in-between person in your life to mentor and speak the wisdom you have learned into their life, and you will reap a great harvest (Proverbs 9:9, 1 Peter 1:1-5). The generations to come will be thankful for your impact and your legacy (Psalm 145:4).

In Him – just a girl pursuing her reflection in the mirror