Blake Long

Another year of life; another year of grace.

I turn 30 years old today.

Of course, everything feels the same. I feel like I did yesterday when I was still in my 20s. But I’ve seen the signs of 30 coming—all too soon. I’m not as athletic as I used to be. My gut is a bit bigger than I’d like it to be.

I’ve had various “ailments” this year that don’t necessarily come with age, but getting older doesn’t help. Though I’m still young at 30, I recognize the effects of sin on the body. I feel them. We all do.

But I am thankful for the grace of God in giving me 30 years thus far. I am thankful He’s continued to wake me up each morning, and thankful He gives me rest at night. I am thankful for those He’s placed in my life, specifically my family.

I am thankful for my beautiful, caring, loving wife. She loves me despite my sins, my failures, my flaws. She is by my side through the valleys and the mountaintops, the lows and the highs. She loves me enough to tell me when I’m wrong, and encourages me to pursue my aspirations.

I am thankful for my two little girls. It is an immense blessing to watch them grow up each and everyday. Though I hate seeing them get older, I love watching them learn new things. They are both tremendous gifts of God’s grace, and it’s my utmost prayer that they come to recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior one day.

I don’t know what my 30s will bring; truly, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But I do, however, know Who holds my future. My God has my 30s in His hands; He holds tomorrow in His palms.

Whether God grants me decades upon decades of more life, or He takes me home tomorrow, I am grateful for what He’s given to me. Most of all, I am thankful for my second birth, my salvation.

Here’s to 30s, where I pray for God to sanctify me more into the image of His Son; where I learn to love my wife more, to tell my kids about Jesus more, to fellowship with His saints more, to evangelize more, to pray more, to read Scripture more, to turn away from sin more, to cry out to God more, to gaze upon the face of Jesus more.

To love God more. Amen.