The Real Cause of the Millennial Midlife Crisis

Millennials are not buying sports cars at 40. They're asking if their life even matters. This new, sad form of midlife crisis is everywhere, and honestly, I don't think we should be surprised. I'm going to tell you why.

Welcome to Provoke and Inspire, where I wrestle with culture and current events by asking, "What would Jesus think and what would Jesus do?"

A whole new brand of midlife crisis is hitting our culture. It's particularly tragic because, unlike the midlife crises of the past—which were at least anchored in responsibilities and roles like being a husband, a father, or having a career—many millennials are hitting 40 with no spouse, no kids, and no significant job. While those things don't ultimately give value in the way only Jesus can, their absence points to a uniquely painful experience.

But again, this shouldn't surprise us. It's not a coincidence. It's the inevitable outcome of a worldview. Our culture is no longer rooted in a Judeo-Christian framework. The dominant mindset is secular humanism—the idea that I am the center, that I define identity and reality, and that my highest purpose is to fulfill my own needs.

I believe this worldview is one of Satan’s most destructive long-term strategies. People have been sowing into self, and now they are reaping the devastating consequences. At the heart of this crisis are two big lies.

The first is the lie that putting yourself first will make you happy. This is a core belief of secular humanism. But despite having more freedom, more options, and more choices than ever, people are more confused, unfulfilled, and alone. True joy is not found in the self. In fact, modern psychology confirms that the more you think about yourself, the more miserable you become. That’s why even voices in the secular world, like Jordan Peterson, speak about self-sacrifice and taking on responsibility. Whether they realize it or not, they’re echoing the truth rooted in Christianity—truth we see fully expressed in Jesus.

Jesus says to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him. That’s radically different from the world’s message. He also says that if you try to hold on to your life, you’ll lose it. But if you lose your life for his sake, you’ll find it. So we have to reject the idea that living for ourselves will lead to happiness. All it's led to is disillusionment and a depressing midlife crisis.

The second lie is that youth is everything. From a secular view, that makes sense. If this life is all there is, then the best part must be when you're young—when you have energy, health, and options. That’s why we’re seeing an obsession with longevity, life hacks, and anti-aging. Even teenagers are putting anti-aging creams on their faces. They're doing whatever they can to hold on to something that inevitably fades.

But youth goes fast. You can only pretend to be young for so long. Eventually, no matter what products you use or strategies you try, you hit a point where you're no longer what culture considers cool, relevant, or useful. So what happens when you're 40 and suddenly invisible?

We need a better worldview. One that brings purpose to every season—not just the energetic youth but also the wisdom of age. And that’s exactly what Jesus does. In him, there is no old or young, male or female, slave or free. Our worth is not found in how society ranks us but in the fact that we are image-bearers of God.

That means our value and purpose are constant, regardless of our stage in life. In the body of Christ, everyone matters. Whether you're young with little experience or older without the energy you once had, you are needed. You are valued.

We need to reject these lies and renew our minds, as Paul said. But we also need to act. We need to be the people standing on the shore, throwing lifelines to those drowning in the consequences of this broken worldview. We need to live in a way that shows the world a better way—one rooted in Jesus, marked by service, responsibility, and self-sacrifice.

The real tragedy isn’t that millennials are having a crisis. It’s that they believed a story that was never true. But we know a better story. One that starts where the self ends and God begins.

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Peace.

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