According to theorist Erikson, growing old is part and parcel of life, and every person goes through these changes.

According to theorist Erikson, growing old is part and parcel of life, and every person goes through these changes. (1974people go through various stages of development marked by the crisis influencing their development. A person’s ability to successfully deal with the crisis sees them develop a psychological virtue that enhances their wellbeing. Older adults go through the stage of integrity versus despair, where they face the challenge of looking back at their lives and determining if they led a satisfying and meaningful life or regret and despair when they perceive that they misspent their lives (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2019).

Christians can cope with the changes of getting older and living fulfilling lives by focusing on what the scriptures say, building their hope. For example, they can focus on such scriptures as 2 Corinthians 4:16, which says, “but for which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (King James Bible). They can also get strength from such promises as Isaiah 46:4, which states that “4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you, and I will rescue you “. When they encounter things that they once could and are no longer able to, they could meditate on verses such as Psalms 73:26, which asserts, “26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

As such, instead of focusing on past failures, the individual could have hope as they look forward to the time they have and the next phase of life where they will be with the Lord. As they look back on their lives, instead of focusing on the negatives and feeling despair for the lost chances and what they did not accomplish, they can have integrity and focus on what they were able to do and accomplish (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2019, p. 508-509). By understanding the character of God and his heart for them from the scripture, they can understand that there is always hope to make a difference at the stage they are through sharing the wisdom which they have acquired through experience, being strengthened by the Lord to accomplish that they need to and stepping into a better life in the afterlife.

References

Erikson, E.H. (1974). Dimensions of a New Identity.New York: Norton. Erikson, E.H. (1975). Life History and the historical moment. New York: Norton.

Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2019). Human development: A life-span view (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage

FIRST COMMENT

Kiley Cummings

RE: Integrity vs. Despair

COLLAPSE

SECOND COMMENT

RE: Integrity vs. Despair

COLLAPSE