Johnny Brown Jr.: Anchored in Faith

A Walk With Christ

By: Lanesha Brown

November 7th, 2024

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Faith. What does it mean to you? Now, consider how challenging it can be to stay rooted in faith when life just keeps piling on the hardships. It’s far from easy. You might even find yourself asking, “What did I do to deserve this?” But as believers, we’re called to remember that suffering isn’t always punishment. Sometimes, difficult things happen to good people. We may not always understand why events unfold as they do, but one thing we can hold onto with absolute certainty is that, through every circumstance, God remains by our side. We can recall in the book of Job how heavily he was tested and how his suffering compelled him to question God. But, although Job had doubts, he never lost faith in God.

The book of Job gives us perspective on what it means to have faith in the face of suffering. Even though Job was angry, confused, and left with many questions, he never lost faith. It also shows us that in times of suffering, we are not abandoned by God.

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This reminds me of a man I was blessed to know and to be raised by- my grandfather.

My grandfather faced more trials than any person that I know. Just a little background for those of you who did not know him. Johnny Brown, better known as Mr. Bobby, grew up as a farmer. He stopped attending school in the fifth grade to work with his father in the fields. Of course, this was not by choice. I can recall being amazed at how a man with a fifth grade education could finish a math problem in his head with ease. He would already have the answer while I still fumbled with the calculator on my phone. Johnny was a man who was not defined by his circumstances. He had a love for nature, cooking and gardening, could fix anything that was broken, and was an amazing musician and singer/song-writer. A man of many hats. With this brief background, we can see that my grandfather's passions consisted of things that required the use of his hands.

It was heartbreaking to watch his health decline over the years, and to see him unable to do the things he once loved. I saw him go from enjoying the outdoors to being confined to a bed, from playing instruments to struggling just to open his hands. From planting gardens to losing his ability to walk—it felt like a lot of the things he cherished was taken from him. Yet, for years, my grandfather remained joyful. He always greeted us with a huge smile, never failed to crack a joke, and continued to praise and worship God, despite his circumstances. His conditions did not make him bitter. It’s easy for someone to retreat into self-pity and resentment when they’ve lost so much. It’s also easy to let anger take hold, allowing difficult circumstances to reshape the core of who they are. But my grandfather never changed. My grandfather displayed what it truly means to have joy in the Lord. Although his debilitating condition stripped away so much of what he loved, it could never take his joy.

 My grandfather was gracious and kind, even on his deathbed. While sitting with my grandfather in the hospital on what was one of his last few days here on earth, my grandfather, calls out to ask me: "Are you ok?" Even in sickness and pain, he was still concerned about the comfort and wellbeing of his granddaughter. That moment reminded me of how blessed I am to know what it is to be loved and cared for.

No amount of time is ever enough time with our loved ones. But I find peace in knowing that my grandfather is now healed and is resting in peace. He demonstrated what it meant to have unshakable faith- rooted and grounded in God. I will never forget the last words that he spoke to my sister. He said to her: "Keep your mind and heart on Jesus." Up until the very end, my grandfather did his job as a father and a husband-lead his family to Christ. He led by example by showing us how to trust in God no matter what our circumstances are.

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If God took away the things on earth that you hold close to your heart, would you still trust Him? Could you still find joy in the small things? I encourage all who are reading or listening to anchor yourselves in Christ. Having faith in God through difficult circumstances can be a challenge but it is also a source of strength. Having faith doesn’t necessarily take away the pain or answer every question, but it gives us hope, and a sense of purpose that can carry us through the hard times. Trusting in God, even when we don’t understand His plan, allows us to find peace in uncertainty and courage to keep moving forward. I was blessed to see a man live out these exact words. My grandfather's ability to have joy in spite of his suffering will always encourage me.

May he continue to rest in peace.