This past Monday, March 10th, I celebrated another year of life. As I get older, birthdays have become more than just cake and candlesโtheyโre a time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for everything God has done. This year was no different. I spent the day feeling grateful, surrounded by love, and fully aware that each year is a gift. But in the middle of all the celebrating, I found myself wondering โ where did birthdays even come from? Whatโs the real purpose of marking another trip around the sun? And more importantly, how does God see birthdays?
The tradition of birthdays goes way back โ thousands of years, in fact. Ancient cultures like the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans saw birthdays as significant, often celebrating rulers and gods with elaborate feasts. But in biblical times, Godโs people didnโt really make a big deal about birthdays. The few mentions in the Bible โ like Pharaohโs birthday in Genesis 40:20 and Herodโs in Matthew 14:6 โ are tied to rulers and some not-so-great events. Because of this, early Christians were skeptical about birthday celebrations, seeing them as worldly or tied to pagan customs.
But does that mean birthdays are unbiblical? Not at all. While the Bible doesnโt tell us to celebrate them or not too, it makes one thing clear โ life itself is a gift from God. Psalm 139:16 reminds us that,โAll the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.โ God knew our days before we even existed, and each year we live is another testament to Godโs faithfulness, another chapter in the story He is writing for us . And Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that โEverything happens in its season, and a time to every purpose under heavenโ according to His plan. So, in a way, birthdays arenโt just about getting older; they mark the passing of time, reminding us that our lives have purpose and meaning under Godโs sovereign plan.
Birthdays can also be a time to reset and refocus. James 1:17 says, โEvery good and perfect gift is from above,โ and that includes the gift of life. Itโs easy to get caught up in routines and forget how blessed we are just to wake up each morning. Our birthdays give us a chance to pause, thank God, and think about how weโre using the time Heโs given us. Psalm 90:12 even encourages us to number our days wisely โ not just to count them, but to make them count.
So, as I celebrate my birthday week, I am not just thinking about the past year โ I also looking ahead. I thank God for His faithfulness, the lessons learned, and the opportunities waiting in the next chapter. Birthdays are more than just balloons and presents; they remind us that every breath is a blessing and every year is another chance to walk in our God-given purpose.
If your birthday is coming up (or just passed), HAPPY BIRTHDAY (or Happy Belated)โฆbut take a moment to soak it all in. Thank God for another year of life, celebrate with joy, and remember โ your life isnโt just a random string of years. Itโs a journey that God is guiding, one birthday at a time. 
