How many times has God done something in your life that was unhelpful or malevolent? How many times has God proven Himself untrustworthy, unreliable, or insufficient? Can you think of one instance when God has abandoned you or left you empty?
If not, then why wouldn’t you trust Him now?
In the Old Testament, the Hebrews had a custom of leaving piles of stones along their journey to Canaan as reminders of God’s faithfulness.
“Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it…’ And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me, I will surely give a tenth to You’” (Genesis 28:18,22).
“And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ just as the Lord God of your fathers promised you” (Deuteronomy 27:2-3).
“Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm…that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:2-3,6-7).
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’” (1 Samuel 7:12).
While it might be impractical for us to go around leaving piles of stones everywhere, we can intentionally remember the times in our lives that God showed His mercy, provision, and grace. Whether it is alone or with your family, it would be a beneficial practice to take a few moments and verbally remember these times. There could even be creative ways to have physical reminders around you, even something as simple as note cards taped to your bathroom mirror.
However you choose to do this, do not let the darkness and uncertainty of these present days make you forget that we serve an all-powerful God, sovereign over everything, who is also a good Father.
