Faith for the Forgetful

“Courage isn’t about self-confidence—it’s about God-confidence. So if you struggle with self-confidence, congrats! You’re already halfway there.”

I laughed when I said this during my message, but let’s be real—that’s a truth we all need to hear.

We live in a world that glorifies self-confidence. Be bold. Be strong. Believe in yourself. But what happens when self-confidence isn’t enough? When the struggles hit hard, when fear creeps in, when the “what-ifs” start shouting louder than the truth?

That’s where right theology—what we actually believe about God—makes all the difference. And in Joshua 1-5, God reminds His people of something crucial: Don’t forget to remember.

Why? Because We Forget. A Lot.

If you’ve ever walked into a room and immediately forgotten why you’re there, congratulations—you’re human. (If you haven’t, please tell me your secret.) We forget names, birthdays, important tasks, and even bigger things—like who God is and what He’s done for us.

That’s why God constantly calls His people to remember. In Joshua 1, the Israelites are about to step into the Promised Land after 40 years of wandering. New land. New leadership. New battles ahead. And what does God tell them?

“Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

In other words: Remember. Remember who I am. Remember what I’ve done. Remember that you’re not walking into this alone.

Your Theology Shapes Your Courage

I’ll say it again: Courage isn’t about self-confidence—it’s about God-confidence. Joshua wasn’t strong because he was naturally fearless. He was strong because God was with him.

And here’s the part that gets real—what you believe about God determines how you respond to life.

If you believe God is distant, you’ll live like you’re on your own.
If you believe He’s untrustworthy, you’ll hesitate to obey.
If you believe He is faithful, you’ll step forward even when you don’t see the whole plan.

Rahab, the Canaanite woman who helped the Israelite spies, didn’t grow up in faith, but she had heard about what God had done, and she believed. She risked everything to align herself with the God of Israel. Why? Because she remembered.

What about us? When life throws curveballs, do we react in fear or remember who God is and stand in faith?

Set Up Your Own Stones of Remembrance

One of my favorite parts of this passage is Joshua 4, where God tells the Israelites to stack up twelve stones as a memorial after crossing the Jordan.

“When your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ you shall tell them…” (Joshua 4:6-7)

Why? Because God knows we forget! He knows that busyness, stress, and life have a way of crowding out what He’s already done. And when we forget God’s past faithfulness, we doubt His future provision.

So, here’s my challenge: What are your stones of remembrance?

• A prayer journal—Write down answered prayers so you don’t forget how God has come through.
• A Scripture wall—Put sticky notes or index cards with God’s promises where you’ll see them.
• A testimony habit—Make it a point to tell your kids, friends, or small group how God has worked in your life.

The more we rehearse God’s faithfulness, the stronger our faith becomes when we need it most.

Don’t Forget to Remember

I know you’re busy. I know life feels overwhelming sometimes. And I know it’s easy to feel like you’re just trying to keep your head above water.

But God’s got you. He is leading you, strengthening you, and walking with you. You don’t have to muster up self-confidence—you just need to remember who He is and step forward in trust.

💡 What’s one way you can “set up a stone” this week to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear!

🎧 Ready for more? Listen to the full message from Joshua 1-5 now! LINK TO MESSAGE

You’ll enjoy this blog post too: “The Best That I Can Do”

As always, I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
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Current Study: Colossians: Rooted & Renewed – January-April, 2026