Lillian Penner
on August 18, 2025

Our grandchildren live in challenging times

As our world is sinking further into moral and spiritual depravity, “How can a young person stay pure?"

6 min read

Our grandchildren live in challenging times

by Lillian Penner

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Isaiah 60:1-2

What is the position we are to take?  I believe it’s a position on our knees as we humble ourselves, seek God’s face, repent of our sin, and intercede for our nation. Then having done all, we stand firm in our faith that God has heard and will answer our prayer. 

Psalm 119:9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word and following its rules. Today, our children are facing social challenges we would never have dreamed of in our younger years or even when many of us were raising our children.

We are living in challenging times in a cultural war, as our world is sinking further into moral and spiritual depravity. Our grandchildren have immediate access to information and images with the use of the computer, tablets and cell phones.   

The media-driven culture is desensitizing our grandchildren and their parents and their role models are disappointing them. God is being pushed to the perimeter of our culture at a time when we really need Him. Most grandparents fear for the future of their children and grandchildren, living in these crucial unstable times, which is why we need to intentionally pray for them.

However, David writes in Psalm 119:9, “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying God’s word and following its rules.” Let’s pray our grandchildren will learn God’s word so they will know how to live their lives in our fragmented and deceitful culture in which we live today.

The Barna Research has written an article about the pornography that is rapidly growing among our youth. I would encourage you to read this article so you will be able to know how to pray for your grandchildren and their parents living in our sexual culture . [1]

Just as Esther intentionally prayed for the lives of her people the Israelites to be spared from physical death, we can pray our grandchildren to be saved spiritually.

  1. Barna Research on Teens, young adults, and Pornography [2]

Lillian Penner is the author of Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren in English and Spanish. She is on staff with the Christian Grandparenting Network prayer ministry, developing prayer cards, grandparents@Prayer groups, and the Grandparenting Day of Prayer. She has a passion for praying intentionally for her grandchildren and desires to share that passion with other grandparents. An avid blogger, Lillian breaks into smiles if you ask about her thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She and her husband, John, live in Portland, Oregon, where they are active in church ministries. They were both raised in Christian homes and desire to pass their godly heritage to their future generations. She and her husband enjoy traveling, Southern Gospel music but most of all, enjoy spending time with their family.

Feature Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About

Ethan Caldwell

Ethan Caldwell shares thoughtful insights and reflections on life, culture, and personal growth. His work explores the intersections of creativity and experience, offering readers unique perspectives.

Paris, France

Featured Posts

Work Experience

Product Designer

Pioneer

2022 — Now

Product Designer

Digital

2020 — 2022

UX/UI Designer

Pioneer

2017 — 2020

Technologies

Figma

Collaborate and design interfaces in real-time.

Notion

Organize, track, and collaborate on projects easily.

photoshop

Professional image and graphic editing tool.

Illustrator

Create precise vector graphics and illustrations.

Creating

Heartfelt Reflections

A deep dive into emotional experiences and personal growth, sharing valuable insights on life’s most meaningful moments.

Latest Tech Gadgets

Explore the newest and most innovative technology products hitting the market, from smart devices to cutting-edge tools.

Trends For 2024

A look ahead at the emerging trends that will shape the world in 2024, from lifestyle shifts to groundbreaking innovations.

Pure inspiration, zero spam ✨