The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a beautiful inheritance.
(Psalm 16:6 NIV)
[Last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak at a women’s retreat on the theme of legacy. This is a portion of what I shared.]
Some legacies are undeniably good. They shape our values, character, and choices in ways that strengthen us and those around us. Maybe your family passed down faith, a love for learning, a strong work ethic, or the joy of nature and adventure. These are the beautiful inheritances that give us something solid to build on. As Psalm 16:6 says, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a beautiful inheritance.” We should celebrate these blessings—acknowledging them, thanking God for them, and choosing to carry them forward.
But for many of us, our heritage is a mix. Alongside the blessings, we often carry burdens we never asked for—things like generational patterns of anger, fear, addiction, legalism, or shame. These “weeds” grow right alongside the good seeds, just as Jesus described in His parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13). Sometimes, we don’t even realize what we’ve inherited because it’s all we’ve ever known. If your family didn’t model forgiveness or grace, for example, it might feel impossible to offer those things yourself.
The good news is this: what we’ve inherited doesn’t have to define what we pass on. In Christ, we are not stuck. He can heal every wound and break every chain. But it often starts with awareness—naming the painful patterns, surrendering them to God, and inviting him to replace them with something better. Healing is usually a process, not an instant fix, but God is faithful in every step. I’ve seen this in my own life as I’ve confronted my struggle with never feeling “enough.” Even with outward success, that inner voice of inadequacy remains—until I lay it before God and allow him to speak truth over it.
Legacy isn’t just what we’re given—it’s also what we choose to leave. We can’t control where we come from, but we can decide what continues through us. Whether your past is full of light, or marked by deep shadows, you have the opportunity to sow something new—something rooted in grace, truth, and freedom. And that is a legacy worth leaving.
God,
Thank you for the many good and beautiful things we’ve inherited from those who came before us. We celebrate your goodness and faithfulness throughout the generations. At the same time, we acknowledge that not everything we’ve received is good or life-giving. Some legacies have caused harm, and we need your healing. Help us to rejoice in what is good and godly, and to release what is negative or sinful into your hands. Heal us, deliver us, and restore us, we pray in Jesus’s name, AMEN.