40 Days of Faith: Day 11

Hebrews 11:13a -- These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar…

When people hear the name Billy Graham, they think of stadiums full of people, altar calls, and millions coming to Christ. But what most don’t know is that the roots of his ministry trace back to the quiet faith of a grandmother.

Billy’s paternal grandmother, Lucinda Bell Graham, was a deeply devout Christian. She was a woman of prayer, Scripture, and steadfast faith. On her North Carolina farm, she taught her children and grandchildren the truths of the gospel, often reading from the Bible each night. Her influence was quiet—but powerful.

Have you ever thought about how you won’t see all the things for which you have prayed? These great saints, especially Abraham and Sarah, only got to see a portion of what they were promised on this side of heaven. Warren Wiersbe said, “It was faith in God’s Word that made him leave his home, live as a pilgrim, and follow wherever God led.”[1] In John 8:56, Jesus said of Abraham, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” Abraham walked with God and God showed him that Jesus would come and through Jesus, all the nations would be blessed. At this, Jesus says, “Abraham rejoiced.”

 Billy Graham’s grandmother didn’t get to live to see the impact that her grandson would have on the world. Might the Lord given her a glimpse of it? Might she have been stirred to pray that God would bless the world through her offspring?

 Certainly, she labored in prayer and lived as a godly example. Billy once said of her, “My grandmother, whom I remember well, had a great influence on my father—and through him, on me. She was a godly woman, full of Scripture and strong convictions.” [2]

 Though she died before Billy became an evangelist, her influence shaped the faith culture of the Graham household. Her deep-rooted belief in the Bible and commitment to Christ were passed on to her son Frank, and ultimately to Billy himself.

 She wanted a godly family with a godly future, so she was a woman who was faithful to the end. Lucinda’s quiet faith may never have filled stadiums, but it helped form a home where:
 

• God’s Word was central
• Prayer was practiced daily
• God’s purposes were taken seriously

 Her spiritual legacy planted seeds in her son Frank Graham—who would later host the Charlotte prayer meeting on his farm. This little-known but crucial event involved Billy’s father and other local Christian leaders gathering to pray for revival in Charlotte. They specifically prayed that “out of Charlotte, the Lord would raise up someone to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth.” [3]

 What were the ripple effects of that prayer meeting? Billy Graham would go on to preach to over 215 million people in more than 185 countries. Millions would respond to Christ. His children and grandchildren would become ministers, evangelists, and leaders—continuing the legacy. All of it began, in part, with the unseen faith of a praying grandmother. [4]

 It’s a living example of 2 Timothy 1:5:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice…”

 Lucinda never saw the fullness of what God was doing through her life and neither did Abraham or Sarah. Yet they pressed on, faithful to the end.

  Knowing that you won’t get to see all that you are praying and hoping for, how does that drive you? Might you want to ask for more from God? Have you stopped to ask God to give you a glimpse of what could be in two to three generations through you and your family’s legacy and impact?

 Faith that pleases God is not limited to what we can see in our lifetime—it looks forward to what God will do long after we are gone. Abraham rejoiced to see the promise of Christ from afar, and Billy Graham’s grandmother prayed for a future she never fully witnessed, yet her faith bore fruit in ways that shook the nations. You may never see the full impact of your prayers, your giving, or your daily obedience, but God sees it all, and He is faithful to bring the harvest. Today, dare to pray bigger prayers, dream kingdom dreams, and trust that the seeds you plant now may bless generations long after you.

 Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the examples of Abraham, Sarah, and faithful saints like Lucinda Graham who trusted You for things beyond their lifetime. Teach me to live with a forward-looking faith, to pray bold prayers, and to dream in light of eternity. Even when I can’t see the results, help me trust that You are at work through my obedience and that Your promises will never fail. May my faith leave a legacy that points future generations to Jesus. In His name I pray, Amen.
 
   [1]  Warren Wiersbe, Weirsbe’s Expository Outlines, 1992, Logos Bible Study Software, accessed July 17, 2025.
   [2] Billy Graham, Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1997), 20.
   [3] Graham, Just As I Am, 20.
   [4] Ibid.