Courageous Retirement: Answer God's Call to MORE!

52. Your Calling Doesn't Retire: How God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes Beyond the Workplace

Does God still have a calling on your life as you step into retirement? Absolutely — and in this episode, Vona makes the case that your best season is not behind you. It's just beginning. Inspired by her own church's search for a pastor, Vona draws a powerful parallel between the formal call process and the calling God places on every one of our lives — yes, even yours, and yes, even now. From Moses to David to the everyday believer ready to leave the workplace, God has always used ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. In this episode you'll discover: * Why your calling doesn't end when your career does * How retirement frees you to prioritize the relationship and purpose God designed you for * What it truly looks like to "lead a life worthy of your calling" in this season "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose."— Romans 8:28 "Lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle." — Ephesians 4:1–2 "The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled." — Romans 15:4 Verses referenced in this episode: Mark 12:29–31 | Romans 8:28–30 | Romans 15:4 | Ephesians 4:1–6 📖 Free Resource: Ready to view retirement through a healthy, God-centered lens? Download Vona's free guide, Four Things to Do Before You Retire, and start thinking about the purposeful, courageous life waiting for you in this best season. 👉 Download the free guide here [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/4things] Vona Johnson is a retirement coach and host of Courageous Retirement. She loves equipping Christians to finish well and live the MORE their soul longs for—beyond the workplace. Remember—your best season may just be beginning. I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364367/fan_mail/new]  Check out my YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@vonajohnson/podcasts] where I post the videos of my interview shows.   Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com [https://vonajohnson.com]! [https://www.courageousretirement.com] Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona. [https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more] Join ClubMore [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/clubmore]!

51. The Next Saul: Why We Need to Stop Labeling People

In a world quick to label people, it's easy to form opinions without ever knowing someone's story. In this episode, Vona Johnson reflects on the subtle ways we categorize others — and invites us to pause. What if we trusted Jesus with what we don't understand, and chose to see people, not categories? Drawing on the transformation of Saul into Paul, she explores how faith can change the way we see others — and ourselves. A gentle call to slow down, question the narratives we absorb, and choose love over labels in a divided world. Because we never know when the person in front of us might be the next Saul… waiting for the moment God uses to change everything. Keep living your MORE with courage—your best season may just be beginning. I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364367/fan_mail/new]  Check out my YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@vonajohnson/podcasts] where I post the videos of my interview shows.   Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com [https://vonajohnson.com]! [https://www.courageousretirement.com] Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona. [https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more] Join ClubMore [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/clubmore]!

50. The Years That Matter Most: Why retirement may be the most meaningful season of your life.

Retirement doesn’t mean our purpose is behind us. In fact, it may be the season when our influence becomes the most meaningful. In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona reflects on wisdom from a 92-year-old woman who shared advice she wished she had received decades earlier. Her reflections spark a deeper conversation about purpose, grace, and the limited time we have to make a difference. Vona also explores the idea of “cheap grace,” a phrase coined by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and what it means for those of us seeking to live faithfully in the years ahead. If you’ve ever wondered what God might still have in store for you in retirement, this conversation will encourage you to live intentionally and step into the MORE He may be calling you toward. Reflection Questions ⭐ What are you retiring to in this season of life? ⭐ Who in your life might benefit from your wisdom, presence, and thoughtful questions? ⭐ How are you preparing your body, mind, and spirit for the opportunities God may place before you? Because retirement isn’t the end… It may be the beginning of your most meaningful season yet. If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend who is navigating retirement or the next chapter of life. I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364367/fan_mail/new]  Check out my YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@vonajohnson/podcasts] where I post the videos of my interview shows.   Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com [https://vonajohnson.com]! [https://www.courageousretirement.com] Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona. [https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more] Join ClubMore [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/clubmore]!

49. Unexpected Freedom: A Lesson About Life, Retirement, and Carrying Less

Many of us carry more than we realize. Over time responsibilities, commitments, possessions, and expectations slowly fill our “backpack” until one day the weight begins to feel heavier than it should. In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona shares a recent personal experience simplifying her website—and the surprising freedom that came from letting go of something that had quietly become too heavy. Through this simple change, she discovered a deeper lesson about life, retirement, and the invitation Jesus offers in Matthew 11: "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Rest doesn’t mean giving up on the dreams God has placed on our hearts. It means releasing the stress of carrying what was never meant to be ours or was never meant to be a burden forever. If you're entering your best season of life, this episode may inspire you to take a look inside your own backpack and ask a simple question:  What might God be inviting you to simplify? I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364367/fan_mail/new]  Check out my YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@vonajohnson/podcasts] where I post the videos of my interview shows.   Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com [https://vonajohnson.com]! [https://www.courageousretirement.com] Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona. [https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more] Join ClubMore [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/clubmore]!

48. Are You Chasing Purpose…or Living Your MORE?

Many people love the quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” But what if, in our search for that “why,” we’ve been looking in the wrong direction? In this episode of Courageous Retirement, Vona explores the tension between chasing purpose the world’s way and following God’s calling. It’s easy to get caught up pursuing bigger numbers, more recognition, or the next opportunity that promises influence or success. But those pursuits can quietly pull us away from the people and callings God has already placed in our lives. Vona shares a personal story about stepping back from the pressure to strive for more clients and more listeners—and what that experience revealed about the difference between chasing and trusting God. If you’ve ever wondered what your purpose looks like in retirement, this episode invites you to pause and ask a deeper question: Are you chasing the world’s definition of purpose… or are you faithfully following Jesus? Because finishing well may not be about doing more. It may be about finally learning to live your MORE. Questions for Reflection: 1. When you think about purpose in this season of life, do you feel more like you are chasing something or following where God is leading? 2. Where in your life might you be measuring success by numbers, recognition, or productivity instead of faithfulness? 3. Is there an area where striving or chasing has begun to crowd out the people or callings God has already placed in front of you? 4. What might it look like for you to listen more intentionally for God’s voice in this season of retirement? 5. What is one simple step of obedience you sense God inviting you to take right now? 6. If you stepped back from striving for a moment, where might you already see signs that God is inviting you to live your MORE? I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2364367/fan_mail/new]  Check out my YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@vonajohnson/podcasts] where I post the videos of my interview shows.   Learn more about the show, author Vona Johnson, and more at vonajohnson.com [https://vonajohnson.com]! [https://www.courageousretirement.com] Schedule a free 15 minute Your Path to More call with Vona. [https://tidycal.com/vona/your-path-to-more] Join ClubMore [https://vonajohnson.kit.com/clubmore]!