Thirty

 

“Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.”  – Luke 3:23

A big change has happened in my life recently. I graduated from college with my Bachelor of Fine Arts–a huge step. I’m happy and proud to be sure, but I did it a little differently than most people.

For the past three years, I’ve been living the life that most people would have lived in their early twenties. As for myself, I’m in my late twenties. I got married at the age of 19 and lived “in the real world” for about seven years. Unfortunately, I got a divorce a few years ago and I’ve been a full-time student. Now I’m looking for a job.

It’s wild … I feel like I’ve started all over again. And to an extent, I feel like I’ve lost everything. As I’m approaching my thirties and facing the real world again, I often feel like I’m far behind. People my age have children that are growing up quickly. They have husbands and wives. They have homes and jobs. They have established lives. I feel like a newborn calf on wobbly legs. What have I to show? What have I to bring?

I’ve been troubled in the past by this feeling of being behind. It was during one of these times that Jesus in his mercy came to me and gently reminded me in his loving way that He Himself hadn’t even started his public ministry until he was thirty. Even so, his ministry lasted only about three years … but in those three years, He made the biggest and most important contribution to mankind–He saved the world from its sin and reunited it with the Father.

So, I’m approaching thirty. That very thing scares me sometimes, but remembering Jesus and His encouragement, I can’t help but find myself a little excited. I’m ready for life to begin, and I’m ready to do great things for He who loves me so.