The 911 Handbook
Study Guide Answers
Lesson 18/Chapter 16
When You Are Middle-Aged: Calming Mid-life Crisis
Answers are written in italics
What Causes Mid-Life Crisis? Five factors are involved:
Factor #1 The Aging Factor: The realization you are getting old.
What are some things that make people realize they are getting old?
Wrinkles, gray hair, losing hair, gaining weight, lack of energy, children growing up.
How can this affect the way they view the future?
When people realize they are growing old, they worry about the quantity and quality of life they have remaining. They may also try to start life over again by making drastic changes in lifestyle.
Factor #2 The Time Factor: Time seems to pass more quickly.
According to James 4:14, why is life compared to a vapor?
It appears for a little while, then is over. Life on earth passes quickly and is gone before we know it.
Read Psalm 90:12. What does it mean to number our days?
We need to make each day count through living it wisely.
Factor #3 The Boredom Factor: Life becomes monotonous.
What makes people get bored with life?
Lack of challenge, continually repeating the same routine things day after day, lack of purpose in life.
Factor #4 The Failure Factor: Goals you haven't reached.
What does Proverbs 24:16 tell us about failure?
The righteous person will fail numerous times, but will keep getting up.
Factor #5 The Reflection Factor: Regrets over past decisions.
Why is it dangerous to try to start life over again?
The past can't be re-lived. People who attempt to "rewind the VCR tape" by making foolish changes in lifestyle usually make serious mistakes they later regret.
How does Romans 8:28 give us a different view on our past decisions?
God can take our past right and wrong decisions and work them into His will for good.
Calming Mid-Life Crisis
First, Don't panic!
What can happen to us if we panic?
We will make wrong decisions based upon fear.
What is God's remedy for panicking? (Phil. 4:6-7)
He wants us to bring all of our concerns to Him in prayer and He will calm our hearts.
What does it mean that the peace of God will surpass all comprehension?
God's peace will saturate our hearts and minds beyond human understanding. While those who don't have God's peace are panicking, we will remain calm and composed.
Second, Accept the fact that mid-life is a part of God's plan for you.
"He has made everything appropriate in its time" (Eccl. 3:11). How does this verse apply to mid-life?
Mid-life crisis tells us life is passing us by, but God has plans for us at every stage of life. When we do God's will, we find fulfillment in life regardless of our age.
Third, Realize the benefits in every stage of life.
Read Proverbs 20:29. What are the benefits of youth, mid-life, and old age?
The benefit of youth is physical strength. An older person is wise because of the lessons learned through many years of experience. The mid-lifer has some strength and wisdom, giving him or her the ability to accomplish many great things.
Fourth, Find meaning in life through serving God.
Why is it foolish to live for the applause of this world? (Eccl. 2:16)
You will be quickly forgotten after you die. It's foolish to spend your life trying to please people who can't be pleased and don't care about you.
Why is it important to find meaning through serving God?
Serving God brings purpose and happiness in this life, and eternal rewards in the next.
Fifth, Look to the future with hope.
According to Jeremiah 29:11, who has the plans for the future?
God owns the plans for future and He will reveal them to us.
Why can we look to the future with hope instead of panic?
We can look to the future with hope because God has good plans for us. When we submit our lives to Him, we can trust Him to be in control.