Bible Verses for Empty Nesters
Most of us do not plan for the day after we leave a child at college or move them into their first apartment. We help our child choose a school, buy the things on the dorm shopping list, and book a hotel room for the big day, but it never occurs to us to plan for what comes next. Fortunately, we are not the first people to undergo change.
The Bible is full of people who navigated through change. Read through the Bible Verses for Empty Nesters and the principles we can use for guidance and direction on how to survive and thrive though Empty Nesting.
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Take the Empty Nest Super Power Quiz
Bible Verses for Empty Nesters and Scripture for When Your Child Leaves Home
Here are 8 Bible Verses for Empty Nesters to help you survive and thrive as you move forward in your empty nest. These are also scriptures to help with empty nest syndrome and serve as encouragement for empty nesters
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Even though you are undergoing the largest change you have experienced since having children, rest assured that Jesus Christ is the same. Everything changes, but not Jesus. He is still here and ready to guide you as you embark on this new phase in life. He is the steady lighthouse. You may feel like a tiny ship tossed about in a huge change, but there is an unchanging God to draw near to. Write down this verse and the other Bible Verses for Empty Nesters and put them on your mirror, on your desk, in your car, in your kitchen – everywhere you might need a reminder that Jesus is still here for you!
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: … a time to plant and a time to uproot, Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Solomon tells us there is a time for everything including a time to plant our families and a time to uproot them. If sending our kids into the world isn’t uprooting, I am not sure what is. Something that was constant for more than 18 years has changed. You are in a season of uprooting and you should not feel guilty for experiencing this season. You are allowed to grieve. You are allowed to take your grief to God.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
There is more to come. This is not the end. Whether you are just sad because you feel worked out of the best job you ever had or there is more going on like marriage difficulties, depression, or unresolved conflict with your child, God will help you find the new. You can repair your marriage. You can be healed from depression. You can resolve conflict and you can realize the dreams of your heart.
So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:12-14
Repeat after me. YOU ARE NOT TOO OLD. You have plenty of life left to pursue dreams, discover new experiences and relationships, and love the life you are living. If God can give Sarah a child at 90 years old, then He can give you a wonderful and fulfilled empty nest.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8
You are going to have to take some steps in faith. Fulfillment will not happen while you are watching Netflix and snacking. Fulfillment will happen when you turn your plans over to God and start walking in faith.
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Ruth 2:2
What does walking in faith look like? It looks like taking some initiative. Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi arrived back in Israel alone and hungry. Ruth decided to do something about their situation and go find some food. God blessed her initiative. The very next verse says “as it turned out” the field belonged to a relative. If you know the rest of the story, that relative became their kinsmen redeemer and married Ruth. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David.
Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. Ecclesiates 7:10
It is wonderful to count the days with your children at home as some of your most precious blessings, but do not remain in those days. You will miss the blessings of today or tomorrow by longing for the past. You have so much more ahead if you will allow the Lord to lead you there.
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
You may not know yet exactly where you are headed or even where you want to be headed. Take it all to the Lord. Ask for guidance. Seek his answers and knock on a lot of doors. It may take time. It will take work. Enjoy the journey.
I hope these Bible verses for empty nesters will inspire you as much as they did me as I transitioned from full-time mom to empty nesting writer and blogger. I wake up every day telling myself, “You are NOT TOO OLD.” Take some initiative like my girl Ruth and get out there and make things happen!
Do you have any favorite Bible Verses for Empty Nesters? Share them in the comment section below. And be sure to write these Bible Verses for Empty Nesters down and put them everywhere to be constantly reminded that God is with you and will see you through.
Have a high school senior who could use some encouragement? Parenting High Schoolers has 15 Bible Verses to Encourage High School Seniors
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Crying everyday ! Wishing I could go back to when my children were little and, I was younger😥
I know, Girl. It’s tough. Give it time. Put together some fall care packages for your grown kiddos and invite a friend out for coffee (or to make packages with you). You can do this. Big hug to you!! ~Laura