Most leaders can talk about the future without much trouble. Give them a strategic plan, a budget, or a list of goals, and they can tell you where the business is headed. Leaders can track revenue, measure milestones, and pull up documented progress in a spreadsheet.
But ask a different question, such as, “Where did you see God at work in your leadership this year?” and the answer may not come as quickly. That’s not to say God was absent, but it simply means we have not taken the time to remember.
Remembering is an important part of faith at work. It gives us an opportunity to slow down and recognize where God provided, answered prayer, opened an unexpected door, redeemed a difficult circumstance, or gave us strength when our own felt insufficient.
We see this practice in Joshua 4. After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God instructed them to take twelve stones from the river and set them up as a memorial. The stones would serve as a reminder of what God had done, giving future generations a tangible reason to remember His faithfulness.
Christian leaders need reminders, too.
Leadership Keeps Pulling You Toward What’s Next
Leadership has a strong forward pull. There is always another challenge to solve, an opportunity to pursue, a responsibility to carry, or a decision waiting for your attention. Once one goal is reached, another usually takes its place.
A forward focus like this can be useful. Businesses need vision, direction, and momentum, but when we spend all our time looking ahead, we can lose sight of what God has already done. It is easy to evaluate a year by asking what grew, what failed, which goals were met, and which ones were missed because those questions have their place; however, they only tell part of the story.
Your leadership journey contains more than business results. Maybe God changed the way you approach a difficult relationship, He gave you wisdom for a decision you did not know how to make, He sustained you through a season that stretched you beyond your own abilities, or maybe a setback exposed something that needed to change. Those moments can be easy to overlook when we are already thinking about the next quarter.
Remembering Helps Us See God’s Hand More Clearly
The memorial stones in Joshua 4 were about remembering what God had done so His people could carry that knowledge into the future. The same can be true for us.
Hindsight often reveals things that were difficult to see while we were in the middle of them. For example, a situation that felt uncertain at the time may look different six months later, a closed door may have redirected you toward something better, or a difficult conversation may have exposed an issue that needed to be addressed. Help may have arrived through a person or opportunity you never expected.
Take time to name those moments.
- Where did God provide when you were unsure how a need would be met?
- What prayers did He answer?
- Where did an unexpected opportunity open?
- What difficult circumstance ultimately taught you something important?
- When did you have the strength to keep going even though quitting seemed easier?
Remembering does not require you to put a positive spin on everything that happened. Some years bring disappointment, loss, unanswered questions, and circumstances that do not resolve the way we hoped. In those seasons, God’s faithfulness can be harder to recognize. Sometimes we recognize that He sustained us even when He did not change the situation. As difficult as it can be, that is still worth remembering.
Let Reflection Change How You Carry the Present
Looking back can change the way we approach today. Remembering God’s past provision can soften an anxious heart. When the future feels uncertain, we do not have to carry every unknown as though everything depends on us.
It can also renew our trust. We have evidence from our own lives that God has met us before, guided us before, and carried us through circumstances we could not navigate on our own.
And remembering can restore courage. The next challenge may still be difficult. The decision may still be unclear, and your business may still face real pressure. Remembering does not guarantee a particular outcome. It gives us a reason to keep walking faithfully when the outcome is not yet known.
As you look back, consider this question:
What did God teach you about His faithfulness, your faithfulness, and the partnership between the two?
That question leaves room for both sides of the story. We can acknowledge where we followed God well and where we fell short. We can recognize His provision without pretending every decision was wise. We can give thanks for the wins while bringing our disappointments honestly before Him.
Create Your Own Practice of Remembering
Remembering does not have to become another complicated leadership exercise. Set aside some intentional time at the end of a quarter or year. Step away from the normal pace of business and write down what comes to mind.
You might keep a journal, create a simple annual record, or share these stories with your family, trusted friends, or other believers. Like the stones in Joshua 4, a written record can become something you return to when circumstances change and fear or uncertainty creeps back in.
The goal is to become more attentive to the ways God has been present throughout the year.
Remember Before You Move Forward
Leaders spend a great deal of time thinking about what comes next. That is part of the job. But faith at work also means learning to recognize what God has already done.
Your leadership story includes the goals you reached and the ones you missed, moments of confidence, and seasons when you wondered how you would keep going. Take time to remember them. Looking back with humility and gratitude can give you a clearer perspective on where you’ve been and a steadier foundation for wherever God leads you next.
If you’re looking for a community of Christian business leaders who want to grow in both business and faith, connect with C12 South Florida to learn more about walking alongside others who are pursuing faithful leadership, wise stewardship, and Kingdom impact.
Steve Sargent
Principal Chair
