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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I’m nearing retirement and feel conflicted. What is the most important thing to do in preparing for this unknown future? – R.D.

A: Retirement is quite different from a two-week vacation, and change is an inevitable part of life, no matter how young or old we are. As the years pass, moving from childhood to adolescence, then on to young adulthood and a career, probably followed by marriage and children – eventually empty nest syndrome steps in, catching many by surprise.

Life is full of changes. Many look forward to retirement; others dread it. Reactions differ because people are different; however, for most people the end of the working years is truly a watershed event – a major milestone, marking not only the end of their careers but also the beginning of their latter years. Retirement is only one of the changes most people will encounter while growing older, but it’s a huge one.

Work is part of God’s plan for our lives. Work is not something we do just to put food on the table; it is one of the major ways God has given us to bring glory to Him. But our work was never meant to become the center of life. That place belongs only to God, and when we allow our work to dominate and control us, then it has become an idol to us – and that is wrong. Our materialistic society reinforces this view. But God says you are greater than your work, and your work is only a part of His plan. Some people are ill-prepared for the realities of retirement, either viewing it unrealistically or refusing to think about it at all.

More important than how to spend your retirement years is to know where you will spend eternity.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.