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Just hours before his tragic shooting death at Utah Valley University on September 10, Charlie Kirk sat down with restaurateur and entrepreneur Andrew K. Smith for what would be his final public interview.

  1. “This Too Shall Pass” — A Time-Tested Truth
  2. Romans 8:28 — God Works All Things for Good

Why These Words Resonate

The 34-minute conversation focused on building brands, entrepreneurship, and leadership — themes Kirk isn't typically known for, but has extensive experience in. His companies had over 1,000 employees and $140 million in revenue at his death. Near the end of the interview, the discussion turned deeply personal. Kirk was asked about the quotes he lived by, and his response revealed the spiritual framework that guided him through life's highs and lows.

“I'm a Christian I wear it on my sleeve. The quotes would always probably be Bible verses. This time I'll give you two,” Kirk said.

  1. “This Too Shall Pass” — A Time-Tested Truth

Kirk started with a phrase often mistaken for Scripture, but with roots in wisdom literature:

“The first is not in the Bible. It's ‘This too shall pass,’ which was actually King Solomon’s phrase… If you’re going through the worst of times, this too shall pass and things are going to get better. If you’re going through the best of times though, it’s really humbling. Like this too shall pass and this will fade away because this will not last forever.”

In the entrepreneurial world, where highs and lows can come quickly, the reminder that everything is temporary brought both humility and hope.

“It humbles you when you need it. It builds you up when you need it. Gives you hope when you need it. It also gives you a little bit of a dose of a gut check,” he explained.

 

  1. Romans 8:28 — God Works All Things for Good

Then Kirk turned to a verse that anchored his Christian faith:

“One of my favorite verses, though, is Romans 8:28… it says that God works all things for good for those who love him. It's very freeing and liberating… because we believe that when things can be really bad, God is working it for His good, His perfect and pleasing will.”

He admitted this truth is “a very hard teaching” in moments of failure, business closures, or loss. But that, he said, is exactly why it matters most:

“It's very liberating that God is working all things towards an ultimate good… I don't have to be in charge of everything. There is a God and I am not him and I surrender to his will.”

Why These Words Resonate

Looking back, Kirk's choice of quotes strikes a deeper chord in light of what happened only hours later. In a conversation about leadership and entrepreneurship, he showed how his faith shaped his worldview and also how he navigated challenges.

“This too shall pass” taught him perspective — that success and suffering are both temporary.

Romans 8:28 gave him assurance — that God can redeem even the darkest circumstances.

In his final public words, Charlie Kirk left behind not just advice for entrepreneurs but timeless wisdom for anyone facing life’s peaks and valleys.

Source: Thrive! News