Merriam Webster defines indecision as “wavering between two or more possible courses.”
I recently retired from working full-time five to six days a week. That was a decision that took months for me to make. My brain was racked with questions:
- What would I do to fill the time?
- Where will I need to cut back on my spending when my income will be slashed by maybe 75%?
- Will I need to take part-time work to meet my expenses?
- Will I need to move?
Those questions and many more caused me to be anxious about my future.
While it was my decision to retire, there was still some pain and anguish with that decision, partly because the friends I had met while working would not be as available as in the past. They had their jobs to do so they could continue to provide for their families. While retirement meant freedom of time, it also meant freedom from connection.
Recently, while preparing to give a message on Hurts and Hang-ups, I provided a short overview of some Hurts such as Anxiety, Crises, and Grief. It struck me that I too was going through a Hurt. That Hurt was due to the anxiety I had allowed to bother me. One of the points I made in my message was “Do not dwell on the problem but determine solution(s).”
As I was going through my notes on anxiety, I found that anxiety and worry are closely related. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we learn that Paul is in a Roman prison and he didn’t know if he would be released or put to death.
Philippians 4:6-7 reads:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Anxiety and its companion worry do their best to immobilize us as believers. We worry about what is happening in our families, our neighborhoods, our schools, our county, and more. If it is allowed to go unchecked, anxiety will lead to physical problems including depression. So as believers in Christ Jesus, we need to give our anxiety and worry over to God. He will replace it with “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding
Many people facing retirement or the crisis of a layoff can ask themselves, “What do we need to do now in advance of that change?” Well, let’s start with possible solutions:
- In preparation for any major events like retirement, we all need to do whatever we can in advance to get out of debt. Pay off those credit cards and pay cash.
- Review your current budget to see where you can reduce expenses. Maybe instead of having two budget lines, one for groceries and one for restaurants, eliminate the restaurants and make more meals at home. It’s a lot less expensive to make a steak dinner with the fixings at home for under $10.00 for 2 people than paying $25.00 each when you eat out.
- Look at expenses such as cable where many bundles are part of the sales pitch. Is it possible for you to get just the channels you normally watch for less expense and maybe use pay-per-view for those special events that aren’t carried on the normal news channels?
- Down-size your living accommodations. If it is just the two of you, do you still need the four-bedroom house with the two-car garage if both of you are retired?
Those are just a few suggestions.
What can you do if you are like me and have lots of free time?
- Go for walks not only to provide you with some exercise but also to allow your mind and senses to take in all the wonders that God has created around us through nature. Listen to the morning songs as the birds greet each other at sunrise. Spy the occasional deer, groundhog, or squirrel as they cross the path in front of you. Those are the times for short prayers when we can count our blessings for what He has provided.
- Volunteer at the church, food bank, community shelter, or other community outreach organizations.
- Join Bridgeway’s 50+ Group or a seniors group at the community center. This will give you community instead of loneliness.
- Read a book or do some crossword puzzles to sharpen your memory.
- Take time daily to read the Bible and spend time thinking about what the passage has been telling you. What do you think the original people thought when they heard those words? Even though they were written centuries ago, what do they mean to us in today’s world?
During our lives, before we are called to our Heavenly Home, we are going to experience many life-changing events. Some of us may experience them before we reach retirement age. With some pre-event planning on your part and prayer for peace and comfort, you should be able to handle most problems with the solutions you have developed and maybe even put them into place.
John 5:14 reads:
“Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
For those stepping into retirement or going through any life-changing event, walking with God brings clarity to a new chapter. When we seek Him in prayer—not just asking for what we want, but listening for what He wants—our next steps become clearer. New life seasons bring many choices, but with God’s guidance, the right path starts to take shape.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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