Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.” I Samuel 7:12 ESV 

Think about a time you experienced a big transition or faced a significant shift in your life. It may have been an unwanted change or one you saw as good and helpful (those kinds have their share of adjustments and challenges too!). Did you wonder how you would possibly get through it? Whether we view change as positive or negative, it is rarely easy—and it may take a while to find our footing once we get to the other side of the episode. Have you ever stopped to look back at the beginning of it all and thought, Did that really just happen? What a journey! How in the world did I make it through? 

As God’s children, we recognize that it isn’t the world successfully bringing us through these times. We know it’s Him, in all kinds of ways—guiding us by bringing people into our lives, orchestrating circumstances, or providing holy nudges and His heart-lifting words of encouragement. We can trust that He not only allowed the journey we just took, but He used it for our good in ways we probably aren’t even aware of yet. One of the most important things we can do on the other side of it all is to remember. Remember how this transition felt in the beginning, how He showed up (sometimes in the least-expected ways!), and how generously He blessed us along the journey. 

Many of us have heard the term “Ebenezer,” referring to the stone that was set up by the Hebrew prophet Samuel to commemorate the help God had given the Israelites. Samuel knew it was important not only to express his thanks but to remember what God had done—and to remind His people too. We humans can be a forgetful bunch, and the more often we remind ourselves (and one another) of how God provides, the less fear we’ll have about the next leg of the journey. We know that He has shown Himself faithful and that we can count on Him to be there again. The story we tell about our journey can be our “Ebenezer.” We can assure ourselves and others that the road ahead will be marked with more altars of remembrance, because He will never stop showing up for us. As the hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” reminds us: 

Here I raise my Ebenezer; 
Here by Thy great help I’ve come; 
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, 
Safely to arrive at home. 

As Christians, we believe we’re pilgrims passing through this world. We are headed somewhere unspeakably glorious, but we have good work to do on the way. Let’s share our stories of how God has shown up for us on the journey, in good times and in bad. We need to remember how it felt to overcome against the odds, to wonder how we were going to make it and have God carry us through. We can all use a reminder now and then that we will never walk alone. 

Lord, I am so grateful for all You have done. When I remember all the ways You’ve shown up for me, it gives me courage for the road ahead. You know what I need before I ask, and You never leave my side. Remind me often of all we have walked through together, and bring others into my life who may need support on their journey. I will speak of Your love and faithfulness as often as I’m able. Help me to always trust You for the next step—and to encourage my brothers and sisters to do the same. Amen. 

This is an excerpt of Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mind: Old Time Devotions for Fresh Starts, a devotional from DaySpring. We've created a curated playlist featuring the hymns in this devotional just for you - listen to it here!