I once heard that there are four stages of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and “you’re looking good.” It was funny until I found myself on the receiving end of that final compliment. I turned 65 this year, and when I registered for Medicare my daughter announced, “You’re officially old!” Where’s the Xanax?

At any rate, Judith and I have recently given much thought about our future and are beginning to contemplate whether there might be a new path for us to travel. Personally, I don’t feel as old as I look, and I’m convinced that there’s a lot left in the tank. So, when a friend of mine asked when I planned to retire, I was nonplused because I had not even considered it.

The great 19th century revivalist D.L. Moody once remarked, “Preparation for old age should not begin later than one’s teens. A life which is empty of purpose until 65 will not suddenly become filled on retirement.” In our culture, a fruitful retirement is often framed as a matter of financial security. However, a nest egg doesn’t provide purpose in retirement. No matter what your age, take some time to consider your future now to avoid these pitfalls and plan wisely for retirement.

Three Pitfalls of Retirement

1. Disillusionment

Someone once said, “If the grass is greener on the other side, it’s probably astro-turf.” Retirement for many has become the proverbial “winter of discontent” as idyllic visions of walking the beach without a care in the world, strolling the golf course, and sipping wine in the garden never materialized.

Mitch Anthony, in his book The New Retirementality writes: “Retirement is an illusion because those who can afford the illusion are disillusioned by it, and those who cannot afford the illusion are haunted by it.” Like so many of life’s hard realities, retirement for many is not what they expected it to be.

2. Discontentment

The reality for many is an unfulfilling and rudderless retirement, even if they have plenty of savings. Michelle Pannor Silver, author of Retirement and Its Discontents, was “surprised by the CEOs who were discontented in retirement and couldn’t wait to find some paid work that was fulfilling. For them, volunteering wasn’t going to cut it. And non-fulfilling work wasn’t going to cut it.”

Others are lonely from losing day-to-day contact with former colleagues. One confessed, “I’m really searching for what I’m called to. I just want to know what’s next.” According to Jeff Haanen, author of An Uncommon Guide to Retirement, retirees consistently say they want to spend more time with family, but end up caring for their “needy adult children.”

3. Despair

Financial security in retirement is a huge concern for many. The Wall Street Journal reports that nearly half of households headed by people of retirement age do not have the resources to maintain their lifestyle should they stop working. One rule of thumb from a major asset manager is to have 10 times your final salary in savings if you want to retire by age 67. However, CNBC reports that the median retirement savings of families between 56 and 61 years old is $17,000.

What will become of Social Security is yet to be seen. “Social Security financing is increasingly stretched as fewer workers are available to support each baby boomer retiree,” states the WSJ. Millions of unprepared retirees worry they will not be able to fend for themselves. Sick of working and yet unable to stop, many seniors live in fear of what the future holds for them.

The Plan for Retirement

For the Christian, retirement shouldn’t be a choice between Easy Street and interminable work. We should not think of it as not working but changing direction. Retirement provides the freedom to explore new opportunities and seek new community. Haanen points out that “A new generation of Boomers are opting less for civic heroism or overseas mission assignments and instead choosing for a lifetime of humble service, in both paid and unpaid roles, right where they live.” A dear friend of ours retired from the US Postal Service and now finds real joy in serving people at Chick-fil-A. Perhaps retirees should consider how they might serve their church in retirement.

If you’re one of the discontented, disillusioned, or despairing of retirement, take some time to reassess, pray, and seek the will of God for this next phase of life. If you’re haunted by the prospect of retirement because of your finances, seek good godly advice, set some goals, and work toward them. Consider how you might bless and serve others in a new role.

Cicero wrote, “The crowning grace of old age is influence.” I wonder, will the millions of Americans who will retire in the next decade become an untapped source of blessing? I pray not.