A Prayer for Contentment in Retirement Years
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).
Listen or Read Below:
My mom used to say that she would never retire. At first, she had steady, full-time work as a medical transcriptionist; however, once her work was outsourced, she lost her job. This affected our family deeply, as we started to be unable to afford things. We had to cut back on what we were buying at the grocery store, start making budget-friendly meals, and stop going on vacations.
This could have really thrown my mom for a loop, but she took everything in stride. She never stressed about it or made my sisters and me feel afraid of the future. My mom would keep working, even if that meant she was not getting paid fairly for her work. My mom continued to do contract work for the rest of her life and passed away long before she would have been able to retire.
For those who have the privilege of entering retirement, there are so many things to be thankful for. Not everyone has this privilege; therefore, make sure you give praise to God. There are many people, just like my mom, who never received a retirement because they passed away or were never blessed to have full-time work.
If you are a retiree, are you content? If not, why do you think this is? Some people in retirement may be lacking contentment because they found so much fulfillment in their work, and that work is no longer part of their lives. A simple fix for this is reconnecting with friends and family members, as well as getting out more. If this is what is causing you to feel discontent, you will feel much better once you are around your loved ones again. On the other hand, if you are struggling with contentment for another reason, it might be a good time to check your heart’s focus and reassess the blessings that can be found in retirement.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). As Paul boldly says in this passage, godliness with contentment is great gain. What does this statement mean to you? Does it challenge any present discontentment in your heart?
We brought nothing into this world, and we cannot take anything out of it when we pass away. Sure, we might have expensive cars, a big home, or a boat, but we can't take any of those things with us. Retirement can bring many blessings into our lives, but if we are always discontent with being retired or with what we have after retirement, we will never be happy. We need to choose to practice contentment in all things because we have already been blessed by Jesus Christ.
Finding contentment in retirement could be done by joining hobby groups, meeting up with old friends, or learning a new language. Do something that brings you lasting joy and fulfillment; something you could never find the time to do when you were working full-time. Just because work is over doesn’t mean you have to stop finding purpose in your life. If you are not sure which new hobby or skill to cultivate, pray about it and see where the Lord directs your heart.
If contentment is difficult for you as you navigate your retirement, ask the Lord for help. He can change your heart of discontentment into a heart of contentment. God can do all things, and He will fill your heart with joy. Wait on His timing and allow His power to work in your life.
Let's Pray:
Dear God, if I'm being honest, I'm not content in my retirement. I'm tired of never being involved in things anymore. I feel like life is passing me by, and I'm just sitting on the sidelines. Because of this, I have felt discontent with my life recently. I struggle to see anything good about retirement, even though I know it is a blessing to be where I am today. Many people never receive a retirement. Thank You for blessing me with a retirement and also giving me contentment through Your Son. Help me to be content in all situations because I know You. I have been redeemed and saved, and this is the greatest blessing of all. Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Tom Merton
Vivian Bricker obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, followed by a Master of Arts with an emphasis in theology. She loves all things theology, mission work, and helping others learn about Jesus. Find more of her content at Cultivate.
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