I thought I had my life all figured out. Since I was twelve years old, all I ever wanted to do was be an attorney — and my dream came true. But after years of hard work as a trial attorney (and later as a judge), I was able to take early retirement at fifty years old. It sounded like another dream: freedom from the 9 to 5 grind, space to breathe, time to finally do all the things I had put off doing. But once the celebrations faded and the routine settled in, an unexpected restlessness began to surface in my soul.

What do you do when the plans you carefully mapped out don’t fill the space in your soul?

I wrestled with that question daily. For so long, my identity had been tied to my career. People respected the title before they knew my name. Stepping out of that role left me feeling unanchored, like I had lost a piece of myself. My assignment had changed, but I wasn’t sure who I was without the courtroom, the schedule, and the responsibility.

Maybe you’ve been there, too. The empty nest season feels lonelier than you expected. A job transition leaves you wondering if your best days are behind you. Or an unexpected detour makes you question if you missed God’s plan altogether.

In the quiet of those restless days, God gently reminded me that while my assignment had changed, my purpose had not. My calling was never about the robe I wore in court or the position I held. My calling was, and always will be, to use the gifts God’s given me to glorify Him and help others.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) became the promise that spoke to me in that season: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God’s plans are always bigger than our carefully written scripts. What felt like the end of one chapter was really the beginning of another. The years I spent in law taught me to listen deeply, weigh words carefully, and discern truth — skills God has now repurposed for coaching, teaching, and ministry.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” That means every skill, every experience, and even every disappointment has a place in His design. He doesn’t waste a thing.

Maybe you’re standing in the middle of a plan that doesn’t match your purpose. Maybe what you envisioned for your life looks very different from where you are now. Don’t despair. Your identity is not found in your role, your title, or your season. Your identity is found in Christ, and His purpose for you remains unchangeable.

Your assignment may change, but your purpose never will. When plans fall apart or shift into something unexpected, it’s not a sign that God is finished with you. It may be the very place where He’s preparing you for a new chapter that better reflects who He’s made you to be.

So, if you find yourself asking, “What now?” lean into the truth that God already knows. His plans are filled with hope. His future for you is secure. And His purpose for your life is unshakable.