Naming the Place of Help

When God delivered Israel from the Philistines, Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, which means “stone of help.” His declaration was simple but profound: Thus far the Lord has helped us. It wasn’t just a monument to a single victory but a marker in the journey. It was a reminder that God’s faithfulness had carried them this far and would continue to carry them forward.

We all need those checkpoints. Life isn’t just one finish line after another. It’s a long road with milestones along the way. It’s easy to get caught up in the momentum of life with eyes forward, but then we miss the moments of God’s faithfulness because we’re moving so fast. Sometimes, it’s hard to see how God’s working in your situation until it’s over. That’s why pausing to reflect and mark God’s presence in each season is so powerful.

There will always be a new challenge, a barrier we don’t expect, or a loss we don’t see coming up ahead. When that happens, it’s natural to just carry on and try to figure out how we’ll get through the next thing, even fervently praying that God will help us through. And He will. But we access a deeper level of faith when we take a moment to set up a monument over the journey so far and name it, not by its hardship, but by the One who helped us through it.

Give glory to God along the way. Don’t hold your praise until it’s over. Acknowledging God’s help this far doesn’t mean you won’t still need it, and it might not even mean the current battle is over, but it does mean you’re not walking this road alone.

Make it personal

Where do you need to place your Ebenezer today? Maybe it’s looking back at something you thought you wouldn’t survive. Maybe it’s right now, in the middle of waiting, when you need to pause and remember: God has helped me this far. And if He has carried you to this point, you can trust Him to carry you the rest of the way.