“That this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever” (Joshua 4:6-7, ESV).

Greg sat across from his teenage daughter one evening, helping her make sense of an overdraft in her bank account. He pulled up the family’s budgeting software to explain how he managed their household finances.

“Here’s where I plan for groceries, electricity, car insurance, things we know we’ll need,” he explained.

When a knock at the door interrupted, Greg stepped away. When he returned, his daughter was still scanning the spreadsheet, her brow furrowed. “Dad, what’s this category called ‘in remembrance’?”

Greg smiled. “That’s the money your mom and I set aside to share with families in need. When you were only two days old, I lost my job. For six months, we didn’t know how we’d make it, but God provided in amazing ways. Because of that, we made a promise: we would always give back in remembrance of His faithfulness to us.”

Just like the stones Joshua commanded the Israelites to set up after crossing the Jordan, Greg had created a tangible reminder, a financial category, to point his family back to God’s faithfulness.

And that’s something we all need. Because life moves quickly. Challenges change. Blessings fade into the background. If we’re not intentional, we forget the very ways God has carried us.

Why We Struggle to Remember God’s Faithfulness

The problem is simple: human memory is short. We can see God’s hand clearly in one season, only to doubt Him in the next. Why does this happen?

We Focus on Present Struggles
When we’re in crisis, it’s easy to forget past victories. The immediate problem overshadows everything else.
We Take Blessings for Granted
Provision that once felt miraculous becomes part of the routine. What was once an answered prayer soon feels like an entitlement.
We Don’t Pause to Reflect
Life’s busyness keeps us moving forward. Without stopping to remember, even big moments of God’s faithfulness fade from view.
We Listen to Fear Instead of Faith
When fear shouts louder than truth, we forget that the same God who provided before will provide again.

How to Actively Remember God’s Faithfulness

If remembering God’s work in our lives doesn’t come naturally, we can cultivate it through intentional practices. Here are some powerful ways to build “memorial stones” in your own walk with God:

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal

Write down daily or weekly answers to prayer, blessings, and moments where you’ve seen God at work. When doubt creeps in, flip back through the pages.

2. Share Stories With Your Family

Like Greg, take time to tell your children (or grandchildren, nieces, nephews) about the ways God has provided. These stories strengthen the next generation’s faith.

3. Create Tangible Reminders

It could be a stone on your windowsill, a photo framed with a Bible verse, or even a special budget category labeled “In Remembrance.” Let symbols remind you of God’s provision.

4. Celebrate Spiritual Milestones

Mark the anniversaries of God’s faithfulness, whether it’s the day you came to faith, the time He healed, or the moment He delivered you from hardship.

5. Use Scripture as Anchors

Pair your memories with verses that highlight God’s faithfulness. For example, Psalm 77:11–12: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old.”

6. Testify Publicly

When you share your testimony in church, small group, or even online, you’re reminding yourself and encouraging others that God is faithful.

The Benefits of Remembering God’s Faithfulness

When you practice remembering, you experience blessings that ripple through your life:

Stronger Faith in Trials: Past reminders fuel present trust.
Generational Impact: Your children and grandchildren inherit a legacy of faith.
Greater Gratitude: Remembering shifts your heart from scarcity to abundance.
Peace in the Unknown: Knowing God was faithful before gives assurance He will be faithful again.
A Testimony That Encourages Others: Your story becomes a witness to God’s goodness.

Choosing to Build Memorial Stones

Joshua knew the Israelites would forget. That’s why he told them to gather stones from the Jordan as a memorial. Each time their children asked about those stones, they would tell the story of God’s miraculous provision.

You may not build a stone altar, but you can build habits of remembrance. A journal. A budget line. A framed Scripture. A simple story passed down at the dinner table.

Friend, don’t let God’s faithfulness fade into the background. Build your “stones of remembrance,” and let them point you, and generations to come, back to His goodness.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, thank You for every reminder of Your faithfulness. Forgive me for the times I’ve forgotten how You’ve carried me through. Help me to build memorial stones in my life so I never lose sight of Your goodness. And let me pass down these stories of faith to the next generation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s faithfulness is too good to forget. Build reminders in your life that point you, and the generations after you, back to His unshakable love and provision.

Ready to Draw Closer to God?

If your heart longs for a deeper, more consistent walk with God, This six-module course Draw Near: A Journey to a Deeper Relationship with God will guide you step by step.