Trusting God? Prove It!

Dr. Jeff Webb. My grandmother didn’t go past 6th grade, never gave a public address, nor did she write a book. She was a gentle farming wife, who, when she prayed, God seemed to listen intently. At least that was my perspective as a young teenager. She was my Paul, and I her Timothy. She pressed me to prepare myself to be a godly man, supported me in ministry, and gave me an unending supply of wisdom. I continue to do my best to imitate her as Paul encouraged Timothy (and us) to do with him.   

When Paul wrote his final letter to Timothy, his beloved spiritual son, he reminded him of the kind of life worth imitating. In 2 Timothy 3, Paul listed out the lessons Timothy had absorbed by simply walking alongside him:  

• His teaching—Paul had unmatched credentials as an apostle, church planter, and New Testament author. He wasn’t just full of opinions; he spoke with authority shaped by the Spirit.  • His example—Timothy didn’t watch from a distance. He saw Paul in good times and gut-wrenching ones.  • His life’s mission—Paul was laser-focused on one thing: getting the gospel to places it hadn’t reached yet.  • His faith—In impossible moments, Paul didn’t flinch. He took the next faithful step.  • His patience—Paul didn’t bulldoze people. Even when rebuking the Corinthians, he called them beloved, chosen, and redeemed.  • His love—Paul was fiercely relational. His letters brim with names, gratitude, and prayer.  • His endurance—When others bailed, Paul stayed the course.  • His suffering—He bore the scars of obedience. And he made sure Timothy understood—that’s normal in the Christian life.  And Paul’s encouragement was simple: Keep going. Don’t just start well—finish well.  The Influence at Home  But Paul wasn’t Timothy’s only teacher. His grandmother, Lois, and mother, Eunice, had already planted the seeds of faith long before Paul showed up. Scripture is silent about Timothy’s father, but it’s loud about the impact of these two faithful women.  Long before there were youth groups, Sunday schools, or seminaries, there were homes. And God still uses homes—yours and mine—to shape hearts for eternity.  Your Personal Mount Rushmore  When I was a kid, we visited Mount Rushmore. I remember the searing heat of the stone as I sat nearby, staring up at those towering faces—Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Lincoln—men who helped shape our country’s story.  It made me think: who’s on the mountain of my life? Whose faces would I carve into the rock of influence—those who shaped my walk with Christ not by title, but by time, presence, and truth?  Let me ask you the same: If you had to choose four people who’ve helped mold your faith, who would they be? Limit yourself to one preacher. Think beyond the pulpit—to teachers, friends, family members.  Once you have those names, do something with them. If they’re still around—reach out. Tell them how God used them. If they’re gone—write it down. Journal what they taught you. Let their legacy keep shaping yours.  Passing the Torch  Now flip the question: Whose faith are you helping to form? Who are the younger Timothys in your orbit? Your children? Grandchildren? Someone from your church or neighborhood?  Write their names down too. And remember: your influence doesn’t need a microphone or a platform. Just consistency. Just love. Just Scripture—lived out loud.  And if your kids aren’t walking with Christ right now—don’t lose hope. Their story isn’t finished yet.  Faith That Flows  God’s Word didn’t arrive through the sky—it flowed through faithful people. Some preached. Most didn’t. They lived it, shared it, passed it on in homes, workplaces, neighborhoods.  We often say, “Faith is caught more than taught.” It was true for Timothy. It’s true for us.  So let’s honor those who shaped us. And let’s be the kind of people who pour our faith into the next generation. Because the most lasting legacy isn’t etched in granite—it’s carved into lives.