Looking Back to Move Forward

How Reflection Strengthens Your Faith

It's easy to get caught up in the current chaos or fixate on the future's uncertainty. We rush from one day to the next, often forgetting to pause and see the bigger picture of our lives. Yet, taking the time to look back--to reflect on your past journey--is one of the most powerful tools you have for strengthening your faith today. Reflection isn't just about nostalgia, it's a spiritual discipline. It's about recognizing the unwavering hand of providence in your story.

The Power of the "Ebenezer Moments"

In the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel set up a stone and called it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the Lord has helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12). An "Ebenezer moment" is any time you clearly see how God intervened, provided, por sustained you through a challenging situation.

Think about your own life:

The Impossible Barrier: Was there a time you faced a seemingly insurmountable problem--a loss, a financial crisis, or a health scare--only to look back now and realize you made it through? The fact that you are here, breathing, and moving forward is a testament to the strength you were given.

The Unexpected Provision: Remember that job offer that came out of nowhere, the supportive friend who showed up at just the right time, or the tiny breakthrough that changed everything? These aren't coincidences; they are guideposts.

The Wilderness Learning: Even the deepest struggles and times of doubt are valuable. Reflecting on them allows you to see the growth that came only from that pressure. The painful past is often the foundation for your current resilience. When you recall these moments, you create a concrete, personal history of God's faithfulness. This isn't abstract theology; it's your story. And your story proves what is possible.

Using Your Past as a Faith Anchor

Every time you recall an Ebenezer moment, you are essentially setting an anchor of faith that holds you steady when the next storm inevitably hits.

It Destroys Present Anxiety: When you face a new worry, your mind naturally goes to the worst-case scenario. Reflection offers a counter-narrative. "I feel overwhelmed now, but I felt overwhelmed before when I lost that job or moved to that new city or faced that diagnosis, and I made it through. If I was provided for then, I will be provided for now." Your past success becomes the evidence for your future hope.

It Deepens Gratitude: Focusing on all you have overcome naturally shifts your perspective from what you lack to what you have been given. Gratitude is the quickest route to spiritual peace. When you see a pattern of help in your life, your heart's natural response is thankfulness.

It Builds Courage for the Next Step: Reflection transforms past burdens into proof of God's power. This proof builds a deep-seated confidence that the divine presence walking with you through yesterday is the same presence walking with you today and tomorrow. You don't have to fear the next unknown step, because you already know who holds you hand.

Practical Ways to Reflect

How do you turn abstract reflection into a meaningful practice? It's simpler than you think. Start a "Faith Log" or Journal: Dedicate a notebook to recording events and, crucially, how you felt before the resolution and how you feel after. Don't just write what happened, but how you saw you faith play a role. When doubt creeps in, you can literally go back and read the evidence.

Use the Power of Storytelling: Share your stories of overcoming with others. When you tell your story, you not only encourage someone else, but you reinforce the truth of it in your own heart.

Create Annual Checkpoints: Set aside time near the New Year, your birthday, or any significant personal milestone to mentally walk back through the last 12 months. What were the high points? The low points? And where was the help found?

Looking back isn't a retreat; it's a re-arming. It's the moment we pause, collect evidence of past faithfulness, and use it to fuel our conviction for the journey ahead.

What is the clearest "Ebenezer moment" you've experienced recently? Share it in the comments below!