Reluctant Retiree

Have you stopped to think about how many decisions you make each day? We decide what clothes to wear, whether to brush our teeth in the morning, what to eat at each meal and in between, what direction we should drive, whether we should buy each item in our cart online or at a store, what hair style suits us, and hundreds more it seems. Some decisions are fairly inconsequential, but others guide the course of our future. Where can we go to find the wisdom that we need daily?

Proverbs 2:6-7 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity.” Since God created all things and therefore knows all things, He is the only place we can go to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. His wisdom is trustworthy and is designed for our good. His wisdom is available to us in His Word, the Bible, and through prayer seeking His guidance.

I don’t know about you, but many times I just want to be alone and be able to clear my mind and rest my spirit. Maybe you don’t have this desire, but I am an introvert and have these times quite frequently. Sometimes the stresses of life are too much and the burdens that come with these stresses are too heavy. Where can we go to find safety and shelter from pursuits, danger and trouble?

Psalm 16:1-2 says, “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.'” God is the place where we can find safety and shelter from danger and trouble. He is the only place where we can reliably find good. He wants to be our constant and desired refuge. Why not turn to His strength and trustworthiness?

To comfort means to ease or alleviate a person’s feelings of grief or distress (Oxford Languages). We can become distressed by many events or circumstances in our lives. Health concerns, job instability, financial problems, relationship difficulties and more can create anxieties within us. Where can we go to find comfort?

Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” No matter what difficulties we may walk through, the Lord remains with us to bring comfort to our hearts and minds and souls. He is the Good Shepherd and His rod and staff lead us to His protection and provision. He is the faithful source of comfort.

The phrase “Never Enough” could be the theme of our society. We always want more. We want more money, higher paying jobs, attention and fame, cars and houses, and we want it with less effort on our part. Why isn’t somebody giving us these things? But are these really the things that we want?

II Corinthians 12:9 says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God’s grace is better than Christmas presents. His grace provides everything that we need for life and through eternity. Instead of seeking things that don’t satisfy us, God’s power provides us unending love, unexplainable joy, all needs supplied, peace beyond measure, eternal hope, salvation, redemption, and undeserved kindness. This Christmas seek more than the gifts under the tree. Find God’s grace.

We all know the Christmas story of the baby Jesus born to Mary and Joseph in the manger. It is a beautiful story of God’s love demonstrated by sending His own Son to save sinners. But God our Heavenly Father also reveals His own attributes through the Christmas story.

Colossians 3:21 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, meekness, and patience.” The Christmas story is a telling of God’s compassionate heart for us as Jesus was sent to save us. It is a story of kindness as God displays His mercy in forgiving us. It is a story of meekness as Jesus came as a child born in a manger. It is a story of God’s patience in waiting to execute judgement on sin. He has called us to imitate His image by also having a compassionate heart, and showing kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.