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Connection Piece: Words of Wisdom

September 24, 2021

I write this blog with tear-filled eyes as I reflect on how blessed I am. This piece has been inspired by the wisdom that can come from a grandparent who has walked with the Lord for years and years. I was inspired to sit down with my grandparents and ask them questions about their lives and how they have seen God working throughout the years. I know many students no longer have this blessing to sit and talk with their grandparents. Yet, I hope this can inspire and help us glean wisdom as I walk through the interview with my grandparents.

For context, my grandparents have worked multiple different jobs through the years as well as upkeeping their farm in North Carolina. They are both strong believers who love their families and are heavily active in their local church to this day. Below are the questions I asked and the answers I received from my grandparents. They responded not only to me, but as if they were speaking to the student body.

Question 1: How has God shown his faithfulness in your life?

            My Pawpaw answered that there are many ways God has shown himself to be faithful. He emphasized that God has never failed him over the years and stated, “all the blessings He poured out on me: salvation, my family, health, job, and home.” My Nana answered, “God has always been faithful to me; just to wake me up in the morning and give me breath and a blessed life. Most of all: salvation, mercy, and grace which I don’t deserve.” Their hope, for us as a student body, is that we constantly reflect on the faithfulness of God in our own pasts and let that remembrance of his faithfulness lead us.

Question 2: Why do you still choose to believe in God after these many years?

            I wrote this question with hope that it would encourage the person who may doubt their faith. Even as a ministry major, I have asked the tough questions about God and His existence, so I wanted to ask my grandparents as well. I asked my Nana, how her belief in God has sustained for so many years and she said, “How could I not believe in God after all these years. I could not make it every day without Him helping me through the hard times. I am so blessed. With Him everything is possible”. My grandpa said, “his love for me, and looking back over the years, he has never failed me”. Their answers were such an encouragement for my heart and personal walk with the Lord. I know we all face tough days; half of college is made of fun times and the other half seems to be hard ones, but this reminder made me reflect on the faithfulness of God in my own college journey.

Question 3: What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

            I know this is such a cliché question, but Scripture is one of God’s ways of speaking to us, and when I asked my grandparents this question God spoke through these verses to me. My grandpa chose Psalm 37:23-24, “A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way. Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand.” This passage blows me away and, in a time, where college is filled with so many uncertainties like: where will I work, who will I marry, will I finish my assignments, or will I be able to keep up financially? I can trust that God is leading me, and nothing is by mistake. Then my grandma answered and chose 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The she said that this has been the standard that she tries to live by. She also said that she feels like Psalm 139 waswritten for her and reading it left me speechless of God’s perfect love shown through this chapter. I encourage you to give that chapter a read and hear God’s word for us!

Question 4: What advice would you give to a student getting ready to start their career?

            For many students (myself included), it can be easy to worry about the future. Thinking about a career can be especially overwhelming, so I asked my grandparents for any advice they would give to these students. My grandpa said, “Always put God first. Never make a decision without going to Him in prayer. Seek Him first in all things and be sure to give God all the glory.” It was encouraging to be reminded that our focus is supposed to be on God in the first place and to never grow tired of waiting on the Lord. Then my grandma said, “Trust God to put you where He wants you in His will. I would not have you being out of God’s will for anything. Always know God is in charge. He has a special plan for you so much better than I can imagine. I pray he gives you guidance and wisdom to make decisions easy for you. God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” Remember, this was my Nana’s advice addressed to each person that reads these words (yes, you).

Question 5: What advice in general would you give college students?

            The college years are some of the most formative years of a person’s life. My grandparents have watched as I have grown and developed through my time here at Liberty. I know their answers were both prayed through and grounded in Scripture as they thought how to answer in a way that would help each of us in a time where life seems so busy, so fast, and so vital. When my grandpa was asked this question he said, “Do not get drawn into the things of the world. Satan will try to show you how good things could be if you follow him, but that “good” would be short-lived. So, my best advice is not to be fooled by Satan.” We all face temptations, but rarely do we consider these temptations to be a war for our attention. This warning to give God our attention and give him our life and our desires has been such a help to me. My grandma then answered, “Take college serious, but don’t take it so serious that you miss out on the whole experience. Life is short, not to you, young people, but it is too us older ones. Enjoy it all the good times and the bad.  Especially the first semester. Take the education of living life away from home and learning how to live it well.  Pray, pray, and pray some more.”. I cannot emphasize this enough. Through your time at Liberty make sure to take advantage of every moment and ever event. Whether it be Bingo nights, movie nights, or something as simple as just hall hangouts. Take advantage of every moment and spend time making memories and learning to love the people around you. The true shame would be missing out on what God has for us in this present moment.

Question 6: What is one life-changing lesson you have learned?

            Wow, this question was one that hit me personally. As I wrote down this question, I thought of all the limitless lessons that must make up the precious lives of my grandparents who have loved and followed the Lord for years. They have committed their lives and work to their heavenly Savior, so I can only image the trials that accompanied them through the years and allowed them to learn such things. My grandpa made the simple, but ground-shaking statement, “I can do nothing without the Lord”. I have seen this to always be true in my life. The quicker we learn this humbling truth, the faster we will lean on the Lord in complete surrender to His will for us. My grandma then followed up saying her lesson learned in life is, “We all have strongholds. I always thought that strongholds were like bad habits or bad choices. It is so much more. It is letting Satan get in your mind and influencing you to doubt Gods love for us, or God’s word, or the truth of the Bible. Don’t be afraid to let your request be made known. Pray for everything – even the little things. Don’t let Satan in. Always be on guard. Satan is on the prowl and looking for our weaknesses. Trust God. Nothing is too hard for God.”. I had never thought of a stronghold in my life simply being Satan trying to influence my thoughts. This has shaped, as I hope it will for many of you, how I think about my walk with Christ as I combat strongholds in my life.

            I hope this helps you, and in turn, those around you. I hope each of you see and know that the generations that have come before us have so much to teach us. Although they are not perfect, they want to help us. I want to thank my grandparents for sharing their wisdom with the student body at Liberty University. These words of wisdom have certainly helped me. May we always pray, pray, and pray all the more for the Lord to lead us.

References

The Holy BIBLE: CHRISTIAN Standard Bible: Holman Bibles. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.


 

Written by Riley Anderson

Riley is a junior majoring in Christian Leadership and Church Ministry with a minor in Biblical Studies.