There have been many studies published over the years that claim different things improve with age. One says our personalities improve with age. Another says love improves with age. Yet another says sex improves with age. I can almost hear a few of you thinking, “Well, that sure didn’t happen in my life!”
But here’s what we can be sure of: God’s will for every believer is that we improve with age.
When God created mankind, He said, Genesis 1:26 (NLT) — “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.” This command has various aspects of health and performance, encouraging us to keep pressing forward. That statement reveals God’s ultimate goal — that we would grow and mature to reflect His image more and more over time.
When we first learn about Jesus and receive Him as our Savior, the process of transformation begins. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, guiding and teaching us how to live according to God’s Word and strengthening us from the inside out. Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process of learning, failing, and succeeding — and through it all, God shapes our character.
To help us along the way, God also gave us pastors, teachers, and other spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. Scripture says, Ephesians 4:12–13 (NLT) — “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”
That’s God’s plan for helping us improve with age — spiritual maturity through continual growth and grace.
We all stumble in our walk with God. You will too. But His love and acceptance don’t vanish when we fail. They remain steadfast to encourage us to keep pressing forward, not to give up. Scripture reminds us, 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT) — “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.”
This means spiritual maturity is a lifelong process — a daily journey of cleansing, changing, and becoming more like Jesus. As we seek Him, His Spirit transforms us from within. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) — “And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Consider how most of us spend our mornings standing in front of a mirror, trying to improve our appearance before facing the day. Some of us go from looking a little frightening to looking pretty good! That’s what God’s Word does in our lives — it becomes a mirror for the soul. It helps us see what needs changing and, with time, helps us reflect Jesus more clearly.
Eventually, the change becomes visible to others. Colossians 3:10 (NLT) — “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” As we grow, people begin to notice something different about us. They see His love shining through, His peace in our demeanor, and His joy in our words.
And even when we struggle or take a few steps backward, God’s mercy meets us anew each day. Lamentations 3:22–23 (NLT) — “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Psalm 119:77 (NLT) — “Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.”
Thank God He is so patient with our progress. His goal isn’t perfection overnight — it’s transformation over time—even over years and decades of our lives. As we yield to Him, stay teachable, and let His Word shape us, we will mature and reflect His image more clearly with each passing year.
So yes — we can improve with age. Because when God is the one doing the improving, the best is always yet to come.
Reflection: Spiritual maturity isn’t about how long you’ve been a Christian — it’s about how responsive your heart is to God’s shaping hand. Every season of life, every success, and every stumble becomes part of His refining work in us. Growth isn’t always obvious day to day, but when we look back, we see His fingerprints all over our transformation. Take a moment today to thank God that He’s still working in you. You’re not who you once were — and by His grace, you’re still becoming who He designed you to be.
Philippians 1:6 (NLT) — “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
