Spiritual Midlife Isn’t A Crisis

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Somewhere between “What am I doing?” and “Is this all there is?” a deeper tug starts pulling at you. It doesn’t always feel spiritual. Sometimes it’s just this nagging sense that what used to work doesn’t anymore. And if that’s you, let me tell you, you’re not unraveling. You’re being invited into a calling.

Midlife isn’t some punchline about buying a flashy car or questioning every decision you’ve ever made. That tired script is old news. What if this season isn’t your breakdown moment? What if it’s your breakthrough? Your spiritual midlife might just be a calling that’s been waiting for you to slow down enough to hear it.

Be sure to download your free copy of our printable A Calling to Purpose Bible Study, Reflection and Action Challenge guide with worksheets at the end of this post! No sign up required!

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Scripture is full of moments where God calls ordinary people into extraordinary purpose. You see it from the beginning to the end; God speaks, God calls, and lives change.

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29

“Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

Ephesians 4:1

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9

These verses aren’t just ancient words—they’re alive. They tell us that a calling is not based on our performance, it’s based on God’s purpose. You don’t earn it, you respond to it. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29

“Therefore I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

Ephesians 4:1

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9

These verses aren’t just ancient words, they’re alive. They tell us that a calling is not based on our performance, it’s based on God’s purpose. You don’t earn it, you respond to it.

The Hebrew word “qara” (קָרָא) means to call, proclaim, invite. God used it over and over to call folks by name, because names aren’t just identity, they come with purpose. And in the New Testament, believers in Yeshua are called into more than just belief. It’s a full life of meaning, serving, growing, and walking it out.

Your job might be how you pay rent. Your calling is what wakes you up in the morning. It’s that thing in your belly that won’t let go. And midlife? Well, that’s prime time to finally listen to it.

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The Psychology Behind Midlife Transition

Some psychologists call this season “individuation.” Basically, it’s where you stop performing and start integrating who you really are. You stop chasing the shoulds. You start looking for the real you underneath all the roles.

You might notice:

• You’re tired of small talk and surface stuff
• You feel a pull toward more meaningful things
• You look back and wonder, “Was that even me?”

Your brain starts processing differently too:

• You’re more aware of your limits and mortality
• You start questioning old beliefs
• You want something that lasts

It might feel chaotic, but it could be the beginning of clarity.

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Why Midlife is the Ripest Time for a Calling

You’ve lived a little. You’ve hit walls, had wins, seen some things. That life experience? It’s not wasted. It’s preparing you to carry something bigger.

Think about it: Moses was 80 at the burning bush. Sarah laughed in her 90s and still saw a promise come to life. Your age isn’t in the way. It’s the fuel.

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Symptoms of a Spiritual Midlife Calling

Let’s look at each in more detail.

You Can’t Shake the Feeling Something’s Off, Even if Life Looks “Fine”

You’ve got the house, the job, the family, maybe even a few achievements on the shelf but, deep down, there’s this ache you can’t explain. People around you might think you’ve got it all together, but your spirit is unsettled. It’s like everything looks good on paper, but your heart knows something’s missing.

You’re Hungry for Something Deeper

You find yourself craving conversations that matter. As I said, you don’t want the same old small talk, you want soul talk. Things that used to entertain or distract you don’t satisfy anymore. You want meaning. You want mission. And that hunger is a clue that God is stirring something in you.

The Same Verse or Message Keeps Showing Up

Maybe it’s a line from Scripture that keeps popping up in different places. Or a phrase you keep hearing in sermons, podcasts, or conversations. You start to feel like, “Okay, Lord… I hear You.” That repetition isn’t random. It’s one of the ways the Holy Spirit gets your attention.

You Feel a Tug Toward Something New, Even if it Scares You

There’s an idea or dream that won’t let you go. You think about it more than you admit. And every time you consider acting on it, fear tries to shut it down. But deep down, you know it’s not just a passing thought. It feels weighty. It feels like a calling. And the fear? That just means it matters.

For me, it was writing. I’ve been scribbling stories since I was six years old. My first masterpiece? A book about a frog. I wrote plays, poems, and books all through my teens, but I never let anyone read a word. I was terrified of what people might think.

Then life got loud. Bills, jobs, responsibilities. Writing got shoved to the back of the closet. But it never left me alone. That pull kept coming back. I started a blog in 2016, thinking it might be a phase. I tried to quit. I actually did for a while.

But in 2018, I came back to it. And now? Two blogs, a Substack, seven books, and a whole publishing company later, I can say with full confidence: this wasn’t just a hobby. It was my calling.

So if there’s a dream that won’t leave you alone, one you’ve tried to walk away from more than once, that just might be God’s voice not letting you off the hook.

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Misinterpreting the Signs as a Crisis

We’ve been trained to treat midlife shifts like problems. But what if it’s your soul waking up?

It’s not always a breakdown. It might just be the beginning of breakthrough. Don’t ignore it.

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The Role of Faith and Spirituality

In Jewish tradition, age and growth matter. It’s taught that by 40, you gain understanding, and by 50, you start offering counsel. That’s not random, it’s quite intentional.

For those who follow Yeshua, midlife isn’t a time to fade. It’s a time to focus. This is when the shallow stuff starts peeling off, and the deeper purpose begins to show.

Yeshua didn’t rush. He waited until 30 to begin His ministry. He made space to pray. He stayed focused. That’s your model. No rush. Just obedience.

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Midlife as a Threshold

You’re not winding down. You’re stepping forward.

This season is in-between the “old isn’t working anymore” and the “new hasn’t fully taken shape”. It’s like standing at the edge of something unfamiliar. And you’ve got to trust God enough to step.

This isn’t about hustle. It’s about surrendering your timeline and letting God move.

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Real-Life Examples of Midlife Callings

• Sue and I both began building our ministries in our 50’s, turning pain into purpose. And I began building a publishing company at almost 60.
• Florence Nightingale shifted the entire healthcare system, and she was over 30 when she stepped into it.
• Abraham left everything familiar at 75 and followed God’s voice into the unknown.

Nobody’s too old. Nobody’s behind. When it’s time, it’s time.

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How to Discern Your Midlife Calling

Turn down the noise. Calling isn’t shouted, it’s whispered.

Start here:

• Write it out: What won’t leave you alone? That thought, that idea, that dream that keeps circling back? Write it down. Don’t edit it or explain it away. Just get it out of your head and onto paper. Sometimes God speaks clearest when you’re honest enough to look at what you’ve been trying to ignore.
• Get quiet: Step away from the scroll and sit with your thoughts Put down your phone. Turn off the noise. Even five or ten minutes of quiet can help you hear what your spirit’s been whispering. Go for a walk. Sit in your car. Hide in the bathroom if you have to. God speaks in the stillness, not the scroll.
• Talk to God: Ask what He’s saying right now. Prayer doesn’t need to be polished. Just ask, “What are You saying to me right now, Lord?” Then pause. Listen. Expect something…maybe a word, maybe a sense, maybe a deep knowing. God still speaks. Ask like you believe He will answer.
• Look for patterns: Is the same message or idea following you? Pay attention. Are you hearing the same verse in different places? Is a theme coming up in podcasts, sermons, or random conversations? That repetition might be God underlining something for you. He knows how to get your attention.

Clarity doesn’t come in a lightning bolt. It comes in the quiet, steady yes.

Obstacles Along the Way

Here’s what might try to trip you up:

• Worrying what people will say
• Trying to make it all make sense on paper
• Feeling like an imposter
• Waiting until you feel “ready”

Let’s break them down further.

Worrying What People Will Say

It’s hard to step into something new when you know people might not understand. Maybe they’ll roll their eyes, question your decisions, or remind you of your past. But this isn’t their calling. It’s yours. Their confusion doesn’t cancel your assignment.

Trying to Make it All Make Sense on Paper

You want the plan to be tidy, logical, and guaranteed. But God’s call doesn’t always come with bullet points. Sometimes He gives you the next step, not the whole map. If you wait until every detail is clear, you’ll stay stuck.

Feeling Like an Imposter

That voice in your head saying, “Who do you think you are?” is lying. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be obedient. Every person God called in Scripture had doubts, flaws, and baggage. You’re in good company.

Waiting Until You Feel “Ready”

If you’re waiting for confidence to show up first, you’ll be waiting a long time. Most callings come with shaky knees. Readiness is overrated. What God is looking for is willingness.

But listen, courage isn’t about feeling fearless. It’s about showing up anyway.

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Embracing the Unknown

This part? Yeah, it’s awkward. You’re in the hallway. The door behind you is closed, and the next one isn’t open yet.

But God is in that space too. The Hebrew word emunah means trust that sticks. You don’t have to know everything. You just have to know He’s with you.

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Integrating Calling Into Daily Life

You don’t need to go viral. You don’t need a massive audience. You need obedience.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions. God works with faith, not polish.

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The Rewards of Answering the Call

When you say yes, even with shaky knees, something shifts.

• You feel a deeper peace
• Life feels more aligned
• Joy comes easier, even in hard seasons

And you become someone others can follow. Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re walking it out.

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My Final Thoughts

If you’re in the thick of it right now, wondering if you’re crazy or if God is up to something, you’re not crazy. You’re being called.

You’re not too old. You’re not behind. You’re not disqualified. You’re being invited to something deeper. Let that restlessness point you forward, not backward. Let the questions be a beginning, not a dead end.

If this message stirred something in you, I want to invite you to take the next step. My book Holy, Hormonal and Holding On is written for women navigating faith, hormones, and big life transitions with honesty and hope.

If you’ve ever felt like your body, mind, and spirit were waging war at midlife, this book is for you. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to hold it together to be held by God. Grab your copy on Amazon and soon it will be available wherever books are sold.

And if this post hit home, be sure to leave a comment. Let’s talk about it. Better yet, join us in our She Opens the Bible Study community group right here on the site. You do not have to figure this out alone.

And don’t forget to download your free copy of our A Calling to Purpose Bible Study, Reflection and Action Challenge guide below!

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Tree of Life (TLV) – Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society.  Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

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