How God’s Grace Stays Forever Young

by Katy Kauffman

I have arrived. As an only child, I have been close to adults all my life—my parents, groups at church, and mission teams. I was the kid in the mix. Now, as an adult among other adults, I still tend to be the youngest. At forty-three years old, however, I have experienced enough changes due to the aging process to need extra … help.

My vision has changed (a little too much for my liking), so hello, bifocals! My gait has changed, so hello, orthopedic shoes. (At least they look cool.) And my tummy medicine has changed my energy level, so hello, supplements. (Did you know that folate was a good thing?)

I have even tried eating spinach—an adult thing to do in my opinion. But I hid it under a mountain of fruit, walnuts, bacon, raspberry dressing, and cheese. (A combination I am hesitant to repeat.)

Don’t get me wrong—good things do come with age. I’ve been telling myself and others for years that life just gets better as we grow older. More time to know God, more people to meet and love, more adventures to be had. But with more time, comes more aging, and I don’t think that fruit on spinach can slow that down much.  

Why Our Souls Don’t Have to “Age” Like Our Bodies Do

Even though our bodies will age with time, our souls don’t have to “age” at the same rate.

“We do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV)

The apostle Paul and his friends in ministry experienced more than just the effects of aging—they experienced the jealousy and rage of people who opposed God’s Son, the Lord Jesus. Paul and his co-workers were “hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed … perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9 NKJV).

Even though their bodies bore the brunt of beatings, stripes, hunger, cold, and more, their souls were renewed day by day. How was that possible? With fresh helpings of grace.

“God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” (2 Cor 9:8 NKJV)

Sufficient grace. Abundant grace. Tailored grace for every good work God would call them to do.

God Never Dispenses Worn-Out Grace

God can renew our inner person every day with His grace and equip us to do what’s hard, needed, and urgent. If we feel like we’re using up all of today’s grace, we don’t need to worry about tomorrow. Grace will be there again, bright and fresh.

The word “renewed” in 2 Corinthians 4:16 refers to “new strength and vigor.”¹ This strength is “unused, unworn.”² The trials of today can’t touch the grace of tomorrow. We will have enough grace for each day, so we can live fully for God and with God. He doesn’t pass out weak or used-up grace. He renews us with grace at full power. The batteries are charged, the path is laid out, and we can walk with God in His power and momentum.

God’s grace enables us to love one more person, solve one more problem, forgive one more offense, serve one more time, and one more and one more. Until we lie down at the end of the day to sleep. And then we wake up—hello, fresh grace, fresh joy, and fresh zeal for a new day.

While our “outsides” are growing older, our “insides” can stay fresh and vibrant. How have you seen God bring renewal to your soul? What form did grace take—strength, courage, determination, or something else? Tell us in the comments, and may you experience the renewing benefits of God’s grace every single day.

1. Larry Pierce, The Online Bible, CD-ROM (Winterbourne, Ontario: Larry Pierce, 2019), 2 Corinthians 4:16.

2. Ibid.