The following is an article from our Women’s Quarterly, Ablaze In Beauty.

Ready or not . . . here it comes!   It’s Change knocking at my door.  Next thing I know I’m headed toward the Land of Old Age kicking and screaming, tossing and turning the whole way.    Warning!  I’m going to be candid with you so if this is out of your comfort zone, read no further!

The truth is that the older I get, the more I want life to stay the same.  How I miss those days when change was an adventure!  I’ve always loved new beginnings.  There were people to meet, churches to visit, homes to settle into, and God’s work to be done!  How exciting!

Then Change came knocking, using a disguise called Menopause.  It hit me blindside, knocked me every which way, and caused me to dread the very thought of another day.    Somewhere along the way, my brain escaped the confines of my body and my internal thermostat died!  Literally, I thought I had lost my mind.

Change plowed through my life like a bulldozer.

When I lay in ruins, Change looked back and asked,

“What are you doing on the ground?”

Young women, I don’t mean to scare you.  We experience different symptoms with various intensity levels.  Still I wish someone had prepared me for this new stage of life.   I wasn’t ready for the crashing fatigue, weight gain, or the loss of cognitive thinking and concentration.  Or the hot flashes that engulfed me without warning . . .

And then there were the mood swings.   I stopped smiling for months on the inside and began to despair over real and imagined sin. God had always been my strength and courage.  Why couldn’t I rise above this?  Was I ruining my children’s lives?  Was I pushing people away from Jesus by my actions?    How much was I to blame for what was obviously a serious design flaw in women?   I can laugh now but I really struggled over these questions.

Menopause truly is a new stage in a woman’s life.   It is a natural biological experience when the ovaries shut down, menstrual periods stop and estrogen production ends.   It marks the conclusion of the childbearing years.  If your symptoms are severe, you should consult with your doctor for medical options.

Beyond that, there are a few things I learned along the way.

• Real transition is taking place as your hormone levels change.  Your body needs time to adjust to it.  Feeling overwhelmed by the simplest of tasks is quite common.  I cried out more than once to God, “What is wrong with me?  I used to be able to juggle lots of balls at once and now I can’t even keep one in the air!”  Like me, you may need to step back from some of your commitments to reduce the stress in life.   It helps to remember that God designed our bodies to change with age.  He moves us to a new stage of life, one where He will still be glorified as He works through us.

• Your emotions will get the best of you on occasion.  You are not perfect and will fall from time to time.   Relationships are hard when there is so much upheaval going on in your body.  When I failed miserably, Micah 7:7-8 strengthened me and boosted my faith:

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,

I wait for God my Savior;

my God will hear me.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy!

Though I have fallen, I will rise.

Though I sit in darkness,

the LORD will be my light.

Pour out your sins of self-pity, anger and discontent to the One who cares.  Confess and ask forgiveness from those you hurt with words and actions.  Claim God’s word to be true, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

• Menopause can cause you to feel isolated from God.  Talk to Him about what is happening so that you can gain spiritual perspective and health.   Renew your mind daily with truth from Scripture; read small segments if you are having concentration problems.  Don’t give up.   In the Old Testament, when Joshua was commissioned to cross over into the Promised Land, God gave him marching orders that can also help us keep our eyes on God:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:7-9

• The way you deal with difficulty is going to come out during this time.   I withdrew behind my house walls, secluding myself away from friends and relatives to hide.   When enough was enough, however, my best friends refused to let me wallow in self-pity any longer, and they demanded what we fondly call “The Intervention.”  Having no choice, I poured out my woes to them, and they in return promised to come alongside of me and pick up the pieces.  They took over the daily operation of our Women’s Ministry giving me time to get through the transition, and they refused to give up on our friendship.   Let others help you!

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

• Finally, be proactive with your health.   For instance, waves of overwhelming fatigue may hinder your ability to function properly.  Ask your doctor to check your Vitamin D level, as the process of aging can deplete it.  There are prescription strengths that restart the production of this vitamin in your body.   Don’t be afraid to ask for help.   No one cares more about your health than you do.

When all was said and done, this transition to a new stage of life brought me closer to my Savior and a better understanding of who I am in Him.

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Psalm 119:71

Younger women, I am sharing this with you because God’s word exhorts the older women to teach the younger women the things of life and God.  One day Change will come knocking at your body’s door.  Be prepared and embrace it, knowing that growing older is certainly preferable to the alternative!

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