Bearing Fruit in Every Season

 Fresh and Green

“They will still bear fruit in old age, 

they will stay fresh and green,”

Psalm 92:14 

The psalmist paints a vivid picture of the righteous: like palm trees and cedars, they stand strong, rooted, and flourishing—not just in youth, but in the twilight years. This is not merely about physical vitality; it’s about spiritual vibrancy. Even in old age, the righteous can radiate God’s life, offering wisdom, prayer, and love that bless generations.

Recently, my dear old friend from elementary school was on his way to see his 94-year-old mother who had suffered a stroke. I shared with him Isaiah 46:4 (KJV): “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.” He told me his mother treasured this verse and had often repeated it over the years. What a beautiful testimony of a life anchored in God’s sustaining promise.

This week, we are going to see Joshua Tree National Park, where some of the oldest Joshua trees have stood for centuries, weathering sun, wind, and drought. They remind us of this psalm’s promise—rooted deep, they stay alive and fruitful in harsh conditions. In the same way, when we are planted in God’s presence, we draw life from Him through every season. The years do not wither us; they deepen us. 

Patrick Miller once wrote that the righteous life “draws its vitality not from human strength but from God’s steadfast love,” reminding us that our ability to remain fruitful is rooted in God’s faithfulness, not our own resilience.

Walter Brueggemann observed that Psalm 92 is a Sabbath psalm—a song for those who have learned the “deep rhythm of trust” that allows them to flourish without striving. In a culture obsessed with youth and productivity, God’s kingdom values ripening wisdom over fading beauty, inner holiness over outward appearance.

Charles Spurgeon encouraged believers: “Those who walk with God in their youth will walk with Him in their age… their last days will be their best days, their evening will be brighter than their noon.” The “fresh and green” life is not about preserving what we had, but about growing deeper in what truly matters—faith, love, hope, and service.

God’s calling for older believers is not retirement from usefulness but renewal in purpose. The church needs their seasoned perspective, steady prayers, and living witness of God’s enduring grace.

Prayer:

Lord, help me grow roots deep in You so that, in every season of life, I may bear fruit that blesses others. Keep me fresh in spirit, green with hope, and rich in love, until my last breath honors You. Amen.