You might be older but you are appointed: Why Prophetess Anna In The Bible Saw What Everyone Else Missed

Betty Wright has a song called the  “Clean Up Woman”. And essentially the “clean-up woman” is the woman who comes in because the man is being neglected by his current woman. Betty’s point is essentially: if you don't take care of your man, another woman will.

And what she further says in the song always stuck with me….“Watch out for the old brooms. Because the new broom only sweeps clean. But the old brooms are able to get into the corners.” 

Now the idea is that the new broom may seem exciting and fresh, but the “old broom” knows the house. 

Because it has history, it cleans better and can capture spaces the new broom simply can’t like the corners. Therefore, it works great with getting up the mess and doing what actually needs to be done.

The metaphor is basically: experience knows the corners youth hasn't discovered yet.

This isn’t a younger versus older post. 

But this is to encourage the woman who looks in the mirror and wishes she were younger...

This is for you.

Maybe you look at younger women and wonder if your best years are behind you.

Maybe you think, “If I only knew then what I know now.”

Maybe you wish you had started the business sooner.

Loved differently.

Made different choices.

Taken more chances.

Maybe you feel like the culture celebrates everybody except women your age.

But let me introduce you to Anna.

Anna was an elderly widow. She wasn't a young woman standing at the beginning of her life’s story.

She had already lived.

She had already experienced loss.

She had already watched years pass.

And yet...

God still had an appointed moment for her.

Anna was a prophetess who spent her days worshiping, fasting, and praying in the temple.

Then Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in.

Everybody saw a baby.

But…..

Anna saw the Messiah.

Now think about that.

Her age actually qualifies her.

Her widowhood appointed her for purpose.

And her life was actually prophetic.

She was discerning.

Her experiences caused her to be spiritually awoke.

And when her moment came, she recognized what everybody else might have missed.

That's why I want to tell the woman wishing she could turn back the clock:

Stop mourning the woman you were or used to be and start honoring the woman you've become.

You know things now that you didn't know.

You've survived things you didn't think you would survive.

You've learned about life.

You’ve learned about people.

You've learned yourself.

You've learned what matters.

And you’ve u've learned what doesn't.

And maybe your greatest gift isn't what you can do with youthful energy.

Maybe it's what you can see with prophetically matured eyes.

Because youth can give you energy…. But it lacks experience.

And experience gives you wisdom.

And yes, the culture loves youth.

But Scripture gives us women whose wisdom became part of the story because they had lived experiences.

It was because Anna was older that she became useful.

At her age, she had learned that she didn't need to compete with Mary.

She didn't need to reclaim her youth.

She simply needed to recognize the moment.

And perhaps that's your lesson too.

Simply learn to recognize the moments you’re in now. 

Because you haven't missed everything.

You're not too old.

You're not too late.

And you are certainly not insignificant.

Your story is still speaking.

And your wisdom matters.

Your voice is needed.

Your presence is required.

You are called to be powerful.

You are beautiful.

And you certainly don't have to apologize for the years that taught you how to become who you are.

So, woman who wishes she were younger...

What if you stopped wishing for your old life and started asking God what He wants to do with the woman you are now?

Because everybody saw a baby.

But Anna saw the Messiah.

And your greatest years aren't behind you.

You've simply lived long enough to see what you need to see and finally recognize what you should be looking for.