Life has a way of presenting us with moments that test our resolve. Whether you’re facing a career transition, relationship challenges, health struggles, or simply trying to find the courage to take your next big step, the secret to moving forward might be simpler than you think: remembering.
Why Memory Matters More Than You Think
Memory isn’t just about nostalgia or dwelling on the past. When understood correctly, memory becomes one of our most powerful tools for building courage and confidence for the future. Through memories, we’re continuously reminded of three crucial truths:
- Who God is in our lives
- What He has already accomplished
- How we don’t look like what we’ve been through
Think about your own journey. In your deepest, darkest moments—when you wanted to throw in the towel, when you felt trapped in the pit—something or someone helped you through. Whether it was getting through grief, navigating a difficult divorce, landing that dream job, or finding doors opening when everything seemed closed, you’ve experienced breakthrough before.
The Foundation Principle: Your Next Step Builds on Past Victories
Here’s a truth that can transform how you approach challenges: Your next courageous step will be built upon the foundation of what God has already done.
You can’t separate your future from your past victories. To have courage for what’s ahead, you must remember what has already been accomplished in your life. This isn’t about living in the past—it’s about drawing strength from proven faithfulness.
Learning from Joshua’s Journey: When Fear Takes Over
The biblical story of Joshua offers a masterclass in navigating this tension between memory and fear. After experiencing incredible victory at Jericho—watching walls crumble supernaturally and becoming famous throughout the land—Joshua faced an unexpected defeat at a small city called Ai.
The defeat was devastating. Thirty-six men lost their lives in what should have been an easy battle. Joshua found himself face-down on the ground, clothes torn in mourning, crying until evening. Sound familiar?
The Danger of Success Without Consultation
What happened? Success had become dangerous. After their miraculous victory at Jericho, the Israelites made a critical error: they moved forward without consulting God. They assumed their own strength, charm, and experience had won the day, forgetting that God was the source of their success.
This pattern shows up everywhere:
- Landing a promotion and thinking it was all about our skills
- Starting a relationship and crediting our own charm
- Achieving recognition and believing we naturally command attention
The truth? We are lights in the world because God has called us to be. We have preserving influence because He’s made us salt of the earth. We carry authority because He’s appointed us as His ambassadors.
The Joshua Pattern: A Framework for Courageous Living
When Joshua learned the cause of their defeat (hidden sin in the camp), God gave him both a strategy for victory and a powerful lesson in remembering. After winning the battle at Ai, Joshua did something different—he stopped to worship and remember.
Step 1: Pause to Worship and Remember
Instead of riding the momentum of victory straight into the next battle, Joshua built an altar. He took time to acknowledge that God was the source of their success. This altar had specific characteristics:
- Made of uncut stones (not manipulated by human hands)
- Required no iron tools (not dependent on human innovation)
- Served as a place of sacrifice and surrender
The message was clear: this victory came through God’s intervention, not human intellect.
Step 2: Create Lasting Reminders
Joshua didn’t just worship—he created permanent reminders. He wrote the law on stones, ensuring that future generations would remember God’s faithfulness. Significantly, the text mentions that women and children were included in this ceremony.
Why? Because remembering creates courage for the future, and the next generation needs to know what God has done to have courage for their own challenges.
Step 3: Stand in the Gap
The ceremony took place between two mountains—Mount Ebal (representing curses) and Mount Gerizim (representing blessings). The altar stood in the gap between blessing and curse, just as Jesus later stood in the gap for us as the chief cornerstone.
The Ultimate Memorial: Communion and the Cross
This brings us to the most powerful memorial in human history. When Jesus instituted communion, He said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” He wanted His disciples to remember not just His miracles—the blind eyes opened, deaf ears healed, demons cast out—but especially that final walk.
Jesus wanted us to remember His courage in the face of betrayal, beating, and crucifixion. He wanted us to remember that with His last breath, He declared, “It is finished.” That cross became the ultimate altar, where the sufficient sacrifice was made for all humanity.
Practical Steps: How to Remember God’s Faithfulness
Understanding the power of memory is one thing—implementing it is another. Here are practical ways to build remembering into your life:
Document Your Journey
- Keep a journal of God’s faithfulness
- Record video testimonies
- Share your story with others
- Create your own “memorial stones”—physical reminders of breakthrough moments
Change Your Trial Response
When difficulties arise, ask yourself: Do my trials trigger trusting God, or do they send me backward into fear and doubt? Train yourself to see challenges as opportunities to witness God’s faithfulness again.
Identify Your Breakthrough Moments
Take inventory of situations you thought were impossible to get through. Maybe you struggled with confidence, felt purposeless, or experienced seasons of deep despair. How did you make it through? What or who provided the strength?
The Courage Connection: Memory Fuels Forward Movement
Here’s the transformational truth: When we remember what God has done, we recognize who He sees us as. We understand that His love is so deep that He gave His only son so that whoever believes would have eternal life.
If you knew your next step wouldn’t fail, would you take it? How courageous would you feel knowing that the same God who gave Jesus strength for the cross is available to give you strength for your next challenge?
Your Next Step Starts Now
Don’t rush past God’s faithfulness. The pattern is simple but powerful:
- Experience God’s faithfulness (you do this every day you wake up breathing)
- Pause to worship and remember (don’t skip this step like the Israelites did)
- Stand on God’s proven character (He’s never failed you before)
- Step forward courageously (knowing He won’t start failing you now)
- Repeat (each step gets easier)
The Bottom Line
Your next step of courage will be built upon the foundation of what God has already done. Don’t rush past His faithfulness. Stop, worship, remember, and let the power of your past shape your courage for the future.
Whether you’re facing a career change, relationship decision, health challenge, or any other crossroads, you don’t have to face it alone. You have a history with a God who has never left you or forsaken you. That foundation hasn’t changed, and it never will.
What are you waiting for? Your next courageous step is calling—and you have everything you need to take it.
We always welcome new friends to worship with us. Find a location that’s close to you!
You can learn more about our beliefs and visit our video library to explore more topics like this one. You can also check out our events page to find out what fun new things we’re doing this season.
