DAY 9: Wisdom from Uncertainty

For a variety of reasons, Julie and her brothers and sisters do not get to live with her mom and dad. Instead, they live with their grandmother. But what can Julie do about it? There are times when life simply does not play out the way we want. Julie wants to live with her parents again. But for this season of her life, she and her siblings will live with her grandmother. Will that happen? How can she make the best of an uncertain situation right now?

Paul had a “son in the faith,” named Timothy. Paul spent a great deal of time with Timothy, discipling him in the faith and all the nuances of doctrine and how to apply it in a church setting. But Paul did not build Timothy’s faith from the ground up. Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother. According to the Bible, Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice were devout in their faith in Jesus Christ. Both of them poured into Timothy, so much so that Paul says of Timothy: “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” (2 Timothy 1:3-4).

All Christians are called to be active in two aspects of discipleship. First, we should be learning from others in the faith. This is called, “being discipled.” Our Christian parents and grandparents are a tremendous resource for those who can help us along in the Christian faith. Second, when we are more mature in our faith, we should be “discipling others” in the faith.

Let’s pray for Julie and her family. Let’s pray that, at the right time and under the right circumstances, her family can be reunited again. In the meantime, let’s pray that her grandmother teaches all of the grandkids the sincere faith of Jesus Christ. And let’s pray for strength, stamina, and wisdom for her grandmother.