Recently, I was asked to speak to the Legacy Coalition. I spoke about how the strength of our connection impacts the measure of our influence. The prophet Joel wrote, “Tell your children about it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to the next generation” (Joel 1:3).
As I’ve reflected back on my message, I realize again that God’s idea is for us to pass on our faith from one generation to another—parents to kids, grandparents to grandkids, aunts and uncles to nieces and nephews, and older to younger. We are called to continually pass the baton.
However, here’s the thing: the strength of your connection will determine the measure of your influence.
This was brought home to me recently when I was attending a track meet. As I stood watching the relays, one of the girls on one team tried to pass the baton but wasn’t in sync with the girl who was to follow. The baton dropped, and those girls lost the race. Without connection, we drop the baton.
The question for parents, guardians, aunts, uncles, and grandparents becomes: how do we best connect to pass on our faith?
Here are 3 of the best ways I know to connect for passing down faith:
1. Listen to their doubts.
Oftentimes, doubt in kids or teens creates panic in parents and grandparents. Similarly, if we are mentoring someone and, all of a sudden, they begin opening up about their severe doubts, it can stir up anxiety in our hearts. We long for those coming up behind us to fall in love with Jesus and desire to serve Him their whole lives, and then, when we hear that they are doubting, anxiety grips our souls. But what if instead, we became curious about their doubts? By listening without judgment, we give them a safe space to explore their faith. Honestly, for all of us, faith is a journey, so it’s important that we give the next generation safe spaces where they can process their doubts. Listen and ask questions. Be authentic about your own doubts. Share with them how you managed to keep going on your own spiritual trek.
2. Tell the stories of God’s faithfulness.
Have you seen miraculous answers to prayer? Have you experienced God’s healing? Has God provided for you in some extraordinary way? Tell the stories to the next generation. Tell them times when you wondered how you would pay your bills, but God came through. Tell them the stories of when you made mistakes and experienced God’s forgiveness and grace. Stories are one of the best ways to pass on our faith.
My husband has often told our kids and grandkids the story of when his grandmother was surrounded in Africa by angry tribesmen who wanted to kill her because they felt that she and her husband were responsible for the drought. Steve’s grandfather was away, but his grandmother asked for some time to pray. She got on her knees, and within an hour, a huge thunderstorm broke loose with downpouring rain. Hundreds put their faith in Christ that day.
In addition to miraculous answers to prayer, tell them times when you struggled to follow Jesus—perhaps times when you backslid or made terrible decisions—but you experienced God’s grace. Often, it’s these authentic stories that reach hearts.
3. Pray Scripture over them.
A year ago, I had two of my granddaughters for a sleepover—they were both six. As I tucked them in, I began to pray Psalm 23 over them, and they both chimed in. It turns out that both their parents had been teaching them Psalm 23. What a wonderful connection with their hearts. They drifted to sleep that night, imagining their Good Shepherd holding them close and keeping them safe as they slept.
I have learned the power of praying Scripture over these kids. As they hear God’s Word, their hearts are stirred. You can also practice this with those you are mentoring. I can’t tell you how often I have been on the phone with someone I am mentoring and prayed portions of Scripture over their situation. The Word of God does not come back void, so we can claim it over those we love and use it in gentle, connecting ways. (The one caution I would give here is: don’t use God’s Word to scold. Use it in gentle, loving ways and trust the Spirit to bring conviction.)
Purchase Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in A Lonely World here.
Comments are closed.