Utah's Hope

We’ve all had moments of relief when an annoying problem is finally solved. We remove that little rock from our shoe. Or we clean the bird dropping off our windshield. Or someone finally shuts off that incessant car alarm. What a relief! It’s refreshing. Well currently here on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie is highlighting a number of spiritual issues where many of us could use some refreshment. It’s foundational insight on the fundamentals of the Christian life. Glad you’re along.

Experience the Harvest Crusade on July 11 when you watch online!

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Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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What kind of father does a boy need? In an upbeat recorded message, the late Steve Farrar encourages men to invest time and energy into the lives of their sons, in spite of the fact that our culture emphasizes the importance of a man’s career. Steve reminds men that God wants them to love His Word deeply and teach Scriptural truths to their children and grandchildren.

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When it comes to retirement, many of us are taught to think mainly in terms of escape—escape from work, pressure, schedules, and responsibility. But is that the full biblical vision? On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West considers what is conveyed in Scripture about retirement. We’ll also discover how to steward our later years with purpose and faithfulness. Then, it’s on to calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live, biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Topics:

Pursuit of Happiness, Gentleness, Grace

BONUS CONTENT: Masculinity, Living Unoffended, Kirk Cameron, Changing Actors

Quotes:

"The way of Jesus is narrow but it leads to life."

"Gentleness is not for lightweights."

"At least be jacked

Psalm 92:14 says of the righteous, “They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green.”

That’s a beautiful picture of faithfulness across every season of life. And it gives us an important reminder: when it comes to retirement, Scripture invites us to think beyond escape.

For many people, retirement is pictured as the finish line. Work hard, save diligently, invest wisely, and one day you’ll finally arrive at a season of leisure—no alarm clocks, no deadlines, no demands.

And after decades of work, rest is a good gift. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a slower pace, spending more time with family, traveling, or having more flexibility in your schedule.

But Scripture gives us a deeper vision for our later years. Retirement may change the rhythm of our lives, but it does not end our calling as stewards.

Many people reach retirement and find themselves asking, “Now what?”

Without the familiar structure of work, the transition can feel surprisingly difficult. For years, your calendar, responsibilities, relationships, and even your sense of purpose may have been shaped by your vocation. When that changes, it can feel like something has been lost.

But in God’s kingdom, no season is wasted.

Retirement may bring changes in schedule, income, health, energy, and responsibility. But it also brings new opportunities to serve, invest in others, and bear fruit in ways that may not have been possible during busier working years.

That’s why the question is not simply “What am I retiring from?” The better question is, “What am I now free to do for the glory of God?”

We see a helpful picture of this in Numbers 8. The Levites were instructed to begin their service in the tabernacle at age 25 and then transition at age 50. But they didn’t stop serving altogether. They stepped back from certain forms of labor, but they continued to assist and minister to their brothers.

In other words, they didn’t retire from purpose. They moved from labor into legacy.

That’s a helpful way to think about our later years. As we age, certain types of work may no longer be possible. Energy changes. Capacity changes. Responsibilities change. But our purpose in God’s kingdom does not expire.

The same hands that once built, typed, managed, served, or led can now mentor, teach, encourage, pray, and support. The same heart that once poured itself into a career can now pour itself into people.

Maybe that means volunteering with a ministry that reflects your passions. Maybe it means mentoring young professionals or young parents. Maybe it means serving more faithfully in your church, caring for aging parents, helping with grandchildren, or simply being more available to encourage others.

Whatever the expression, the heart of stewardship remains the same: offering your time, wisdom, experience, and resources for the glory of God.

Think of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2. Both were advanced in years, and yet both were living with expectancy and devotion. Simeon was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. Anna worshiped with fasting and prayer, night and day.

Their lives remind us that faithful presence is a powerful gift. God does not retire His servants. He repurposes them.

That does not mean retirement has to be frantic or overfilled. This is not about proving your value through constant activity. In God’s economy, usefulness is not measured by productivity, but by faithfulness.

That’s a word many of us need to hear. Our culture often measures significance by title, output, income, and visible achievement. But God sees differently. He sees the quiet prayer, the faithful encouragement, the wisdom shared across the table, the hospitality, the generosity, and the steady presence in the life of

"I don't want a divorce." For many people, that sentence comes long before the papers are signed. Vaneetha Risner, author of "This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God through the Heartache of Divorce", shares her journey through an unwanted divorce, the shame that often follows in Christian circles, and the struggle to trust God when life falls apart anyway. If you're tired of pretending you're fine—or carrying pain that feels impossible to explain—Vaneetha meets you there.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Vaneetha and find her book "This Was Never the Plan: Walking With God Through the Heartache of Divorce" at vaneetha.com

• Janelle Breitenstein’s 5-session video series on mom anger at familylife.com/momanger

• Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
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When we think about sitting down, we might think that’s pretty relaxing. But if you’re sitting in traffic, not so much. If you’re sitting in the doctor’s office, you might be fearing bad news. Many are fearful sitting on an airplane. But is God feeling fear or tension as He sits on His throne? No. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us tap in to God’s state of mind through the power of prayer. He invites us to taste of the refreshing reassurance of a heavenly point of view.

Experience the Harvest Crusade on July 11 when you watch online!

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.