“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.”  
“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa M. R. Stead

The world is moving too fast, you think. You have no idea what half the words are on the magazines at the grocery store. Your daughter laughs at you for pulling out a dictionary to look up a word she could Google in just a couple seconds. Your four-year-old grandson has his own cell phone.

In these times of information overload, it can be difficult to feel like you have anything to offer. It can be hard to keep up with all the new ideas and technology and to trust that people still value your “antique” ideas.

But you need to know that God isn’t done with you yet. You have a critical perspective to pass on to the next generation.

Turning to Jesus When Things Get Rough

My G’ma, Romona, walked in your shoes. She worried about her influence. But because she kept her focus on Jesus, she ended up leaving the best legacy imaginable. There’s a lot to learn from her example.

G’ma had her fair share of difficulty in life—losing her husband too soon, fighting sickness, and struggling with finances. She faced sadness and fear:

  • she couldn’t see her grandkids and great grandkids as much as she wanted
  • she was afraid to drive after dark (and worried about losing her license)
  • she lost her friends, one by one (“I’m the last one from my class who’s still alive,” she’d say with a deep sadness.)

I remember G’ma worrying that her reactions to these hardships would sour her grandchildren against God. She worried that by showing us her reality instead of a rose-colored-glasses view of life, she’d set a bad example. If fact, it was just the opposite.

Trusting in Jesus to be Your Legacy

G’ma’s reactions to her hardships taught me how to get through the hard things in life. When things got rough, she kept her eyes on Jesus. Rather than giving in to fear or hopelessness:

  • she underlined words in her Bible so many times you could barely read the page
  • she was generous at every turn—with her finances, her time, her laughter
  • she sang the old hymns that connected her to her Jesus (“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him…”)

By living out the faith she preached, G’ma showed me that God can be trusted. Her legacy of faith still lives in me today.

Like my G’ma, you too can have a strong legacy. Start today by praying for God to remind you of his presence. When you live in his peace, you’ll radiate a powerful story of the might and graciousness of God. Trust me when I say your family is paying attention.

Take some time right now to settle your heart. Ask God to remind you that your love for him is the best example you can set for your family for generations to come. Then pray through these 4 verses to encourage you as you trust God:

Don’t forget me, God. Help me leave a good legacy for my kids and grandkids.

“Now that I am old and my hair is gray, do not abandon me, O God! Be with me while I proclaim your power and might to all generations to come” (Psalm 71:18 GNTD).

God, show me that you are good and faithful.

“For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5 ESV)

God, remind me that I am yours and you are with me.

“Our Lord, we belong to you.
We tell you what worries us,
and you won’t let us fall.” (Psalm 55:22 CEV)

God, let my life reflect you.

“We will not keep them from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the Lord’s power and his great deeds
and the wonderful things he has done.” (Psalm 78:4 GNTD)