Stacking Stones of Remembrance

By Brandon Lemons

Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past strengthens our faith for the present and future. This is why God commanded the Israelites to take twelve stones from the Jordan River and set them up as a memorial. As Joshua said, “These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:7).

The purpose of the stones was simple: God’s people need reminders. When future generations saw those stones, they would remember that God had parted the Jordan and brought His people safely through. The stones stood as visible evidence that God had been faithful before – and that He would be faithful again.

The same principle applies to our faith today. To have faith that endures, we need to identify specific moments when we have seen God at work. These moments – whether in biblical history, church history, or our own lives – become anchors for our souls. They are occasions when we can confidently say, “God was at work there.”

Each time we say, “God was at work there,” it becomes like a stone placed in a pile. One stone alone may not seem impressive, but over time they form a visible monument to God’s faithfulness. When uncertainty or fear arises, we can look at those stones and remember God’s track record of faithfulness.

Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to remember His works.

• In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus instructs us to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Jesus’ sacrificial death on our behalf.

• The annual festivals in Israel – such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles – were designed to help people remember God’s mighty acts of deliverance.

• When David prepared to face Goliath, he drew courage from past experiences of God’s help: “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).

• When the psalmist was overwhelmed with distress, he intentionally recalled God’s past works: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:11-12).

• The New Testament writers often reminded Christians of the gospel. Paul writes, “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you” (1 Corinthians 15:1).

Above all, the greatest “stone of remembrance” for Christians is the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper regularly brings us back to the defining moment of God’s saving work, as do holidays like Good Friday and Easter. If God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us, we can trust Him with everything that lies ahead.

Sometimes, our circumstances feel dark and uncertain. We struggle to see the way forward. In those moments, it helps to remember a simple piece of wisdom I once heard: “Don’t forget in the darkness what you learned in the light.” There are seasons when we see God’s work clearly – when His provision, guidance, or grace is unmistakable. Those are the moments when we stack stones. Later, when life feels confusing or heavy, those stones remind us of what we already know: God has been faithful before.

Looking back on specific instances of God’s faithfulness helps us trust Him through the difficulties we face today, tomorrow, and beyond. There are countless examples of His work throughout Scripture. There are also many examples in the life of the church and in our own lives that can become stones of remembrance.

This is one reason we have Celebration Sunday each year – to remember the many ways God has been at work in and through Friedens. We are stacking stones together. The same happens when we celebrate Christian holidays like Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter, which remind us of the defining events of Jesus’ life and the salvation He accomplished for us. We can do the same anytime we recognize that “God was at work there.”

Faith that endures is not built on wishful thinking or blind hope, but on remembering what God has already done. When we take time to recall His faithfulness, we build a stronger foundation for trusting Him in the future.

So, let’s keep stacking stones!