Goodbye 40s, hello 50! Yep, I turned 50 years old today and I’m embracing this next decade with open arms. I can’t wait to see what God does in my life, in my relationship with Him, with me and through me in ministry, in the lives of the people I love and in those I’m going to meet.

As I look back at the last decade, I am in awe. Some of the greatest gifts and joys of my life happened in my 40s and I just can’t get over how good God is to me. Some of the hardest and most difficult and painful things happened over the last ten years as well but I can still see God’s hand all over it. Although I don’t know all the things He will do with those heartaches, I catch glimpses of the lessons He’s taught me and the ways He has drawn me to Himself, how He has deepened my relationship with Him and the ways He’s using the hard in the lives of others. If you know me, you know that I like timelines. I remember stuff this way, this is how God has wired me. So, let’s take a look back at the 40 somethings in the life of Christy Hoagland. (Oy, third person talk, weird).

At 40 years old, God called me to be a worship leader. I went to back to school and acquired a Certificate in Worship Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. My favorite class was Hermeneutics (how to study and interpret the Bible).

At 40, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer and I would spend the next several years being with her and loving her. She passed away in 2022, I was 47. I would get to share at her service the greatest gift she ever gave me – she introduced me to Jesus.

In the Fall of this same year (2015) I started a journey towards full time prison ministry. And over the next several years I would get to witness hundreds, maybe even thousands of men and women come to faith in Christ. I saw transformation after transformation right before my eyes and I got to be a part of it. Wow, God! I also got to do this alongside my husband and a dear friend I would claim as my big brother and I his little sister.

At 41, God gave me the gift of songwriting. This blew me away and it still does.

At 42, I released my first original album and my two sons were a part of it. These boys of mine who had walked away from their faith would sing about God and His greatness with me.

At 43, I became a grandma :) and I currently have two of the sweetest, funniest, and most fun granddaughters ever.

At 44, two unborn grandbabies, a boy and a girl went to be with Jesus.

At 44 and some of 45, I would be in the darkest place of my life, under attack like I’ve never been. And the result would end in loss of friendships, ministry, and so much pain that still tries to creep its way in. But, it also brought deeper intimacy with Christ, sweet time at the feet of my Savior and revelation and pruning of my sinful heart. This didn’t happen overnight or in the next year but over the next few. And now I can recite Romans 8:28 over this period of my life.

Around 46, I started attending and serving at my current church, a church unlike I’ve ever been a part of, I get to go to church here! I have also gained some incredible friendships and a beautiful sisterhood unknown to most people…a sweet, sweet gift from the Lord.

In these past couple years, I’ve been asked to speak at women’s conferences and other events and the requests are still coming. And in writing this just now I’ve realized why that hermeneutics class was my favorite – I love God’s Word.

At 48, I got to release my second original album. Still writing.

At 48 and 49 and currently…I’m writing a devotional. The first rough draft was finished a few days ago.

A decade of loving Jesus and watching Him move, in my life and others. A decade of leading worship. Inmates in prisons and jails. The homeless in shelters and on the streets. Women’s conferences in other states. Women’s retreats with my best friend, Jamie. Revivals. Recovery events. Youth conferences. Mission trips. Wal-Mart parking lots. Hospital bedside singing. Hospital bedside evangelism. Six year old granddaughter evangelism. Sons running back to Jesus. Every day moments with my King, falling more in love with Him.

What can God do in a decade? Whatever He wants, I’m just glad I got to be a part of it.

Hello 50. Thank You, Lord, You are more than I deserve.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6