When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, Joshua set up twelve stones and said to the people, “In the future, your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river before your eyes and kept it dry until you were across, just as he did at the Red Sea, when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so that all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24)

Memorials are ways to remember significant events that have taken place in our lives. Even a souvenir from a vacation once enjoyed can be a memorial we display on the wall or mantle of our home. Pictures can also be a way to memorialize events or milestones in our lives or in the lives of our loved ones. Memorials often remind us of the good times and happy moments. They also bolster our hope for a brighter future, giving us something to look forward to. That was the point of Joshua, because he knew the people would face hardships, so he wanted them to be able to look at something that demonstrated God’s faithfulness. The point is that God is faithful even when we don’t see it. Knowing this and reviewing the times of his faithfulness help us live through those times when things seem bleak and dark.

Sometimes we hold on to memorials that don’t help us look forward to better times. Instead, we hold on to memorials that remind us of hopeless times, whether through objects or memories that need to be let go. Instead of building us up, they tear us down. Sadly, many hold on to memorials that keep them stuck in the past in a negative way. Letting go of those things is not easy because they often remind us of a time when we did have hope and the prospect of a better future. Through events we had no control over, they have now become memorials of deep sadness and despair. Is it perhaps time to start building memorials of hope? Think about it.