Resilience in the Autumn of Life

July 20, 2026

Words from Jesus

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All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.—2 Corinthians 4:15–16

In life, everyone faces times and seasons of struggles and challenges, and that dynamic doesn’t change when you age. Most of the troubles or difficulties you experience in your youth are left behind you as you age, but new ones often take their place.

When you were younger, it could seem easier to cope with the challenges of life, and to change and adapt to the circumstances. You were stronger in some ways and more resilient then. But as you age, you often find that your own resources aren’t enough. This leads you to draw closer to Me and to grow in your dependence on Me.

When you find yourself experiencing any form of weakness, pain, or discomfort, turn your heart to Me in prayer. Whenever you feel discouraged or frustrated, confused or fearful, put your hand in Mine. Give your cares to Me and keep your mind stayed on Me, and I will grant you My perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Sufficient grace

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. … For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9–10

When people are naturally strong, healthy, and gifted, others can tend to focus on them. But when people are weak and afflicted, and yet they place all their trust in Me, My power can shine through their weakness.

The more you learn to depend on Me, the more you realize that I am enough and My grace is sufficient for you. And when others see that, they learn to put their trust in Me. When you are weak, you can be strong, because My strength is being made perfect in your weakness.

So whenever you are feeling weak, sick, or discouraged because you aren’t able to do the things that you used to do, remind yourself that I am your very present help in every single time of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Remind yourself that My strength, grace, peace, and joy are your strength. You may not know what the future holds, but you know Me—the one who holds all your tomorrows in My hand. I am your friend, and I will care for you in everything you face and bring you safely home.

Our Comforter

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.—2 Corinthians 1:4–5

Life can be a struggle, but remember My promise that “I will never leave nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). “I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). I see your struggles and I hear your calls for help. When you feel all alone, I am with you.

Many times throughout life, you have faced burdens that seemed like immovable mountains. During these times, you learned to trust Me, and they have drawn you closer to Me. When you have found the peace that only I can give amidst the problems and obstacles, you in turn have become an instrument of My love to comfort others.

Many things in the world around you may be unfair, unloving, or even evil, but when you look at them through My promise to “work all things together for your good,” you can trust that I will bring something good out of every heartache, problem, or fear you face. I love you, My child, and I always will. You have a special place in My heart that no one else could ever fill.

Taking care of your temple

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.—1 Corinthians 6:19–20

It is natural to experience changes in your physical strength and abilities as you age. Don’t resist the changes that take place at this time of life, but rather accept them and learn to enjoy your new lifestyle for what it is. Resisting only puts more strain on your health and dampens your happiness.

Stay active, but don’t try to do more than you are able and don’t push yourself beyond your physical abilities. Let others do the heavy work. I know that is easier said than done when you’re used to being independent and strong and active. It’s hard to step back, but it is necessary to do so at some point.

Try to get exercise in some form every day, preferably in the fresh air. Exercise will help you stay fit and sleep better and will help you feel more energetic overall. It can lift your spirit and improve your general health. Do your best to take care of your body, and commit your health to Me, and then trust Me to do the rest.

Forever friends

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?—John 14:1–2

Some of the familiar faces that you spent many happy years with—some of your dearest friends and loved ones—have gone on ahead of you to the next life. I know how difficult it is to not have them around anymore. When you feel sad or downcast because you miss them, remind yourself of the joy they are experiencing. They have left the cares and worries of life behind, and are in a better place.

Each time you think about those dear ones who are no longer with you, you realize how blessed you were to have known them and to have had their friendship and companionship. That closeness you shared was a gift from Me.

I will not leave you comfortless. I will wipe the tears from your eyes on that day when we meet face to face, and you will be united again with those you love who have gone on ahead of you. Before long, you and your loved ones will be together again, and you will live forever in the beautiful home I have prepared for you.

I will

When you are weary, I will be your resting place (Matthew 11:28).

When you are surrounded by darkness, I will be your light (John 8:12).

When you are hungry, I am your living bread (John 6:51).

When you are fearful, My peace will be your defense (John 14:27).

I will be all these things to you, because you are Mine.

When you are lonely, I will be your friend (John 15:14–15).

When you are in doubt, I will be your source of faith and courage (Psalm 27:14).

When you are depleted, I will be your strength (Psalm 46:1).

When you are helpless, I will be your intercessor (Romans 8:34).

I will be all these things to you, because of My unfailing love for you.

Originally published in 2008. Adapted and republished July 2026. Read by Gabriel Garcia Valdivieso. Music by Michael Dooley.

Copyright © 2026 The Family International

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Some Trust in Chariots, and Some in Horses - Psalm 20

 

Psalm 20 A Psalm of David. Commentary by Dennis Edwards

20 ^1-4The Lord hear you in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend you; Send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; Remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice; Selah. Grant you according to your own heart, and fulfil all your counsel.

When we are in troubles, as we often are for one reason or other, we need God to come to our help and strengthen us, or comfort us, or defend us from our adversaries. We try to live upright lives to prevent evil coming upon us and to try to obtain God’s protection and blessing on our lives. Nevertheless, problems do come. The New Testament teaches that the name above all names to call upon in our moments of anxiety or pain or distress is the name of Jesus.

There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, than the name of Jesus, Acts 4:12b. He only is the way, the truth, and the life, John 14:7. When the lame man was healed in the temple the religious authorities asked Peter and John, “By what power, or by what name, have you done this?” Acts 4:7. Peter responded thus:

“If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified; whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other,” Acts 4:9-12a.

Ultimately, we all face the question of what we will do with Jesus, who is called the Christ or the Messiah? Is he a devil or a saint, a man or God? C.S. Lewis framed the situation in the following manner.

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God. That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things (that) Jesus said, would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic, on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg, or else, he would be the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else, he is a madman, or something worse. You can shut him up as a fool. You can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

^{Psalm 20:5} We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all your petitions.

It is in the name of Jesus that we have power over all the power of the enemy. Apostle John records Jesus’ words saying that, if we abide in Jesus and His words abide in us, or in other words, if we are obedient to Jesus’ teachings, that whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in Jesus’ name, He would give it to us, John 15:7 & 16b.

^{Psalm 20:6-7} Now know I that the Lord saves his anointed; He will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Our own strength or wisdom cannot save us in the day of trouble. Our enemies are too great for us. It will take the supernatural strength and wisdom of God. Therefore, we look to Him in the day of trouble. Our eyes will be upon Him. He is our saving strength. We will trust in the name of Jesus to be our salvation.

^{Psalm 20:8-9} They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, Lord: let the King hear us when we call.

If we stay faithful to our call, God will raise us up, in spite of our enemies. He promises, “Because you have set your love upon Me, therefore will I deliver you: I will set you on high, because you have known My name. You will call upon Me and I will answer you. I will be with you in trouble. I will deliver you, and honour you. With long life will I satisfy you, and show you my salvation,” Psalm 91:14-16 adapted.

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,” Philippines 2:10-11. Amen. “Whosever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Romans 10:13.

Originally published January 20, 2025

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Uns confiam em carros e outros em cavalos - Salmo 20

 

Salmo 20 Um Salmo de David. Comentário de Dennis Edwards

Salmo 20:1-4 O Senhor te ouça no dia da angústia; o nome do Deus de Jacó te proteja. Envie-te socorro do seu santuário, e te sustenha de Sião. Lembre-se de todas as tuas ofertas, e aceite os teus holocaustos. Conceda-te conforme o desejo do teu coração, e cumpra todo o teu desígnio.

Quando estamos em dificuldades, como muitas vezes acontece por uma ou outra razão, precisamos que Deus venha em nosso auxílio e nos fortaleça, nos console ou defenda dos nossos adversários. Tentamos viver vidas corretas para evitar que o mal venha sobre nós e para tentar obter a proteção e a bênção de Deus nas nossas vidas. No entanto, os problemas surgem. O Novo Testamento ensina que o nome acima de todos os nomes que devemos invocar nos nossos momentos de ansiedade, dor ou angústia é o nome de Jesus.

Não há outro nome debaixo do céu, dado entre os homens, pelo qual devamos ser salvos, além do nome de Jesus, Atos 4:12b. Ele é o único caminho, a verdade e a vida, João 14:7. Quando o coxo foi curado no templo, as autoridades religiosas perguntaram a Pedro e João: “Com que poder ou em nome de quem fizestes isto?” Atos 4:7. O Pedro respondeu assim:

“Se hoje formos examinados sobre a boa ação feita ao homem paralítico, e como foi curado; Seja do conhecimento de vós todos, e de todo o povo de Israel, que em nome de Jesus Cristo, o Nazareno, a quem vós crucificastes; a quem Deus ressuscitou dos mortos, por ele este está aqui são diante de vós. Esta é a pedra que foi rejeitada por vós, os construtores, a qual se tornou a pedra angular. E em nenhum outro há salvação”, Atos 4:9-12a.

No final do dia, todos nós enfrentamos a questão do que faremos com Jesus, que é chamado Cristo ou Messias? Será ele um demónio ou um santo, um homem ou Deus? C.S. Lewis enquadrou a situação da seguinte forma.

“Estou aqui a tentar impedir que alguém diga a coisa realmente tola que as pessoas costumam dizer sobre Ele: Estou pronto a aceitar Jesus como um grande mestre moral, mas não aceito a Sua afirmação de ser Deus. Essa é uma coisa que não devemos dizer. Um homem que fosse apenas um homem e dissesse o tipo de coisas que Jesus disse não seria um grande professor de moral. Seria um lunático, ao mesmo nível de um homem que diz ser um ovo escalfado, ou então, seria o diabo do inferno. Deve fazer a sua escolha. Ou este homem era, e é, o Filho de Deus, ou então é um louco, ou algo pior. Pode calá-lo como um tolo. Pode cuspir-lhe e matá-lo como um demónio, ou pode cair aos seus pés e chamar-lhe Senhor e Deus, mas não vamos inventar nenhuma tolice paternalista sobre ele ser um grande mestre humano. Ele não deixou isso em aberto para nós. Ele não pretendia isso.”

Salmo 20:5. Nós nos alegraremos pela tua salvação, e em nome do nosso Deus arvoraremos pendões; satisfaça o Senhor todas as tuas petições.

É em nome de Jesus que temos poder sobre todo o poder do inimigo. O apóstolo João regista as palavras de Jesus dizendo que, se permanecermos em Jesus e as Suas palavras permanecerem em nós, ou por outras palavras, se formos obedientes aos ensinamentos de Jesus, tudo o que pedirmos ao Pai em nome de Jesus, Ele dar-nos-á. dá-no-lo, João 15:7 e 16b.

Salmo 20:6-7 Agora sei que o Senhor salva o seu ungido; ele lhe responderá lá do seu santo céu, com a força salvadora da sua destra. Uns confiam em carros e outros em cavalos, mas nós faremos menção do nome do Senhor nosso Deus.

A nossa própria força ou sabedoria não nos podem salvar no dia da angústia. Os nossos inimigos são demasiado grandes para nós. Será necessária a força sobrenatural e a sabedoria de Deus. Por isso, olhamos para Ele no dia da angústia. Os nossos olhos estarão sobre Ele. Ele é a nossa força salvadora. Confiaremos no nome de Jesus para ser a nossa salvação.

Salmo 20:8-9 Uns encurvam-se e caem, mas nós nos erguemos e ficamos de pé. Salva-nos, Senhor; ouça-nos o Rei quando clamarmos.

Se nos mantivermos fiéis ao nosso chamamento, Deus levantar-nos-á, apesar dos nossos inimigos. Ele promete: “Porque colocaste o teu amor em mim, então Eu te livrarei; Invocar-me-á e eu lhe responderei. Eu estarei contigo em apuros. Eu te livrarei e te honrarei. Com vida longa te saciarei e te mostrarei a minha salvação”, Salmo 91:14-16 adaptado.

“Para que ao nome de Jesus se dobre todo o joelho dos que estão nos céus, e na terra, e debaixo da terra; e toda a língua confesse que Jesus Cristo é Senhor, para glória de Deus Pai”, Filipinas 2:10-11. Amém. “Todo aquele que invocar o nome do Senhor será salvo”, Romanos 10:13.

Originalmente publicado 20-01-2025

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Algunos confían en carros, y otros en caballos - Salmo 20

Salmo 20. Salmo de David. Comentario de Dennis Edwards

20:1-4 Que el Señor te escuche en el día de la angustia; que el nombre del Dios de Jacob te defienda; te envíe ayuda desde el santuario y te fortalezca desde Sion; acuérdate de todas tus ofrendas y acepta tu holocausto; (Selah). Te conceda conforme a tu corazón y cumpla todo tu consejo.

Cuando nos encontramos en dificultades, como ocurre a menudo por una u otra razón, necesitamos que Dios venga en nuestra ayuda y nos fortalezca, nos consuele o nos defienda de nuestros adversarios. Procuramos vivir con rectitud para evitar que el mal nos sobrevenga y para obtener la protección y la bendición de Dios. Sin embargo, los problemas surgen. El Nuevo Testamento enseña que el nombre sobre todo nombre al que debemos invocar en nuestros momentos de ansiedad, dolor o angustia es el nombre de Jesús.

No hay otro nombre bajo el cielo, dado a los hombres, en que podamos ser salvos, sino el nombre de Jesús (Hechos 4:12b). Solo Él es el camino, la verdad y la vida (Juan 14:7). Cuando el cojo fue sanado en el templo, las autoridades religiosas preguntaron a Pedro y a Juan: "¿Con qué poder, o en qué nombre, habéis hecho esto?" (Hechos 4:7). Pedro respondió así:

"Si hoy se nos interroga acerca del beneficio realizado al enfermo, y de cómo fue sanado, sea notorio a todos vosotros y a todo el pueblo de Israel que en el nombre de Jesucristo de Nazaret, a quien vosotros crucificasteis y a quien Dios resucitó de entre los muertos, por él este hombre está aquí sano ante vosotros. Esta es la piedra desechada por vosotros los edificadores, la cual se ha convertido en cabeza del ángulo; y en ningún otro hay salvación" (Hechos 4:9-12a).

En última instancia, todos nos enfrentamos a la pregunta de qué haremos con Jesús, a quien se llama el Cristo o el Mesías. ¿Es un diablo o un santo, un hombre o Dios? C.S. Lewis planteó la situación de la siguiente manera:

Intento evitar que alguien diga la tontería que suele decirse de Él: «Estoy dispuesto a aceptar a Jesús como un gran maestro moral, pero no acepto su afirmación de ser Dios. Eso es algo que no debemos decir. Un hombre que fuera simplemente un hombre y dijera las mismas cosas que Jesús dijo, no sería un gran maestro moral. Sería un lunático, al nivel de quien se considera un huevo escalfado, o sería el diablo del infierno. Debes tomar tu decisión. O este hombre era, y es, el Hijo de Dios, o es un loco, o algo peor.

Puedes callarlo como a un necio. Puedes escupirle y matarlo como a un demonio, o puedes postrarte a sus pies y llamarlo Señor y Dios, pero no nos dejemos llevar por la tontería condescendiente de que fuera un gran maestro humano. Él no nos ha dejado esa posibilidad. No era su intención». 

Salmo 20:5 Nos alegraremos en tu salvación, y en el nombre de nuestro Dios alzaremos nuestras banderas; que el Señor cumpla todas tus peticiones.

Es en el nombre de Jesús que tenemos poder sobre todo el poder del enemigo. El apóstol Juan registra las palabras de Jesús: si permanecemos en Jesús y sus palabras permanecen en nosotros, o en otras palabras, si obedecemos las enseñanzas de Jesús, todo lo que pidamos al Padre en el nombre de Jesús, Él nos lo concederá (Juan 15:7 y 16b).

Salmo 20:6-7 Ahora sé que el Señor salva a su ungido; lo oirá desde su santo cielo con la fuerza salvadora de su diestra. Algunos confían en carros, y otros en caballos; pero nosotros recordaremos el nombre del Señor nuestro Dios.

Nuestra propia fuerza o sabiduría no puede salvarnos en el día de la angustia. Nuestros enemigos son demasiado grandes para nosotros. Se requerirá la fuerza y ​​la sabiduría sobrenaturales de Dios. Por lo tanto, lo miramos en el día de la angustia. Nuestros ojos estarán puestos en Él. Él es nuestra fuerza salvadora. Confiaremos en el nombre de Jesús para nuestra salvación.

Salmo 20:8-9. Ellos están derribados y caídos, pero nosotros nos levantamos y nos mantenemos erguidos. Salva, Señor: que el Rey nos escuche cuando clamamos.

Si nos mantenemos fieles a nuestro llamado, Dios nos levantará, a pesar de nuestros enemigos. Él promete: «Porque en mí has ​​puesto tu amor, yo también te libraré; te pondré en alto, por cuanto has conocido mi nombre. Me invocarás, y yo te responderé. Contigo estaré en la angustia. Te libraré y te glorificaré. Te saciaré de larga vida y te mostraré mi salvación». Salmo 91:14-16 (adaptado).

“Para que en el nombre de Jesús se doble toda rodilla de los que están en los cielos, y en la tierra, y debajo de la tierra; y toda lengua confiese que Jesucristo es el Señor, para gloria de Dios Padre”, Filipenses 2:10-11. Amén. “Todo aquel que invoque el nombre del Señor será salvo”, Romanos 10:13.

Publicado originalmente el 20 de enero de 2025

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