Ginger Harrington

We can become so focused on what still needs to be done that we rush past what God has already done. Discover five biblical reasons to celebrate God’s faithfulness, remember what He has done, and find hope even when life still feels unfinished.

I’m going to confess something, friends. I’m not that great at celebrating. I finish something, and I’m already three steps into the next thing before I’ve let myself feel glad about the last one.

Maybe you do this too.

There’s always another task to finish, another goal to reach, another person who needs you, or another problem to solve. We move so quickly toward what’s next that we don’t always stop long enough to notice what God has already done.

Recently, my friend and podcast co-host Larissa Traquair and I celebrated two years of the Habits of Hope podcast. As we looked back over two years of conversations, guests, lessons learned, technology conquered (mostly!), and ways we’ve seen God work, I realized that stopping to celebrate wasn’t simply about marking a podcast anniversary.

It was about remembering the faithfulness of God.

Whether you’re creating something, raising children, building a marriage, serving in ministry, caring for someone you love, working in a professional career, or simply trying to be faithful in the season God has given you, there is value in pausing to recognize God’s faithfulness along the way.

That’s really what celebrating God’s faithfulness is about. Celebration gives us space to remember His goodness, enjoy the fruit of faithful work, give thanks for the people who have shared the journey, and carry renewed hope into what comes next.

And maybe, like me, you need to get a little better at it.

 

Why Is It Important to Remember What God Has Done?

Remembering what God has done helps us recognize His faithfulness instead of letting His goodness get lost in the busyness of life.

Psalm 103:1–2 says:

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

I love the wholeheartedness of this passage. All that is within me. With everything I’ve got, I’m going to bless the Lord. And then comes the reminder: forget not.

Isn’t it easy to forget, to take things for granted?

When we stop and look back, we begin to see things we missed while we were busy living them. We remember the prayer God answered, the strength He supplied, the person He provided at just the right time, the growth that happened slowly, or the hard thing He helped us do.

Larissa put it so simply in our conversation: “Celebration is a form of gratitude.”

I think she’s right.

Is Celebration a Spiritual Discipline?

Yes, celebration can be a spiritual discipline because we can intentionally choose to notice and respond to God’s goodness rather than waiting until we feel celebratory.

We tend to think of celebration as something that happens naturally when something exciting occurs. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, weddings, promotions, holidays, and major accomplishments.

But what about all the life that happens in between?

Larissa is much better at this than I am. She loves to celebrate, but as we talked about it, she pointed out that celebration doesn’t always happen automatically. She has learned to cultivate it.

Sometimes we simply have to decide to stop and celebrate.

Celebration isn’t just a response. It’s a practice. And practicing celebration changes what we notice.

That matters because most of life isn’t lived in the big milestone moments. It’s lived in ordinary days, small beginnings, slow growth, quiet faithfulness, answered prayers, difficult seasons, and work that may never feel completely finished.

5 Reasons Celebrating God’s Faithfulness Matters

Celebration helps us pay attention to God’s work in ways we can easily miss when life keeps moving. As I’ve thought about what it means to stop and celebrate, these five reasons stand out to me.

1. Celebration Helps Us Notice What God Has Done

Celebration makes us stop long enough to recognize God’s faithfulness in places we might otherwise rush past.

So much of our attention naturally goes toward what isn’t done.

We see the goal we haven’t reached, the prayer that hasn’t been answered the way we hoped, the project that still needs work, the habit we haven’t mastered, or the area where we still need to grow.

Meanwhile, there may be evidence of God’s faithfulness all around us that is easy to miss in the rush.

Our podcast anniversary gave me a reason to zoom out. Yes, there is still room to grow. There always will be. But the milestone also gave us a chance to name what God has done:

• how God has provided
• the people He has brought into our lives
• what we’ve learned and made it through
• how much has changed in two years.

What might you notice if you stopped for a moment and looked back at how God has been at work in your life?

Psalm 126:3 says, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.”

I love the simplicity of this verse.

 

The Lord is working. We notice. We are glad.

Celebration creates space for all three.

 

2. Celebration Helps Us Appreciate Progress Even When Life Isn’t Finished

We don’t have to be finished to celebrate how far God has brought us.

This may be the lesson I need most.

One reason celebration can be hard for me is that I rarely feel finished.

Before I was a writer, I was a schoolteacher. Teachers are rarely finished. Then there’s parenting. You’re never really finished with that either. Housekeeping? Please. There’s always another load of laundry and another stack of dirty dishes.

Writing and ministry work the same way. There’s always another draft, another idea, another email, another person to serve, another way something could be better.

If we wait until everything is finished before we stop to celebrate, we might not celebrate anything.

Years ago, while studying Genesis, I spent time thinking about God’s rhythm of work and Sabbath in creation. I had always focused on the importance of rest—and rest is important.

But eventually I noticed something else.

At the end of each day of creation, God acknowledged what had been done. He saw that it was good. At the end of the sixth day, He saw that it was very good.

On day three, was everything finished?

No.

Yet God still acknowledged the good work of that day. That realization changed something for me.

There is a rhythm in Scripture that includes work and stopping—not only stopping to rest, but stopping to acknowledge what has been done and to give thanks.

Sometimes stopping gives us a perspective we can’t get while we’re still running.

3. Celebrating God’s Faithfulness Cultivates Gratitude

Celebrating God’s faithfulness turns gratitude from a passing feeling into an intentional way of noticing God’s goodness.

Larissa often says, “Until further notice, celebrate everything.”

I love that. It doesn’t mean pretending everything is wonderful. It means learning to notice that even in complicated seasons, there are still things worth thanking God for.

We can become so accustomed to looking for the big moments that we overlook the smaller ones: a first step, a little progress, a prayer answered quietly, a new skill learned, a conversation that went better than expected, a day when we had the strength to do what needed to be done.

Celebration and gratitude go hand in hand because both require attention. And gratitude can coexist with difficulty.

Larissa knows this in a way I deeply respect. After her husband, Bill, died, she continued to practice celebration even while grieving. Did she sometimes celebrate through tears? Absolutely.

Did celebration negate what was hard? No. But the practice of noticing what was still good and recognizing God’s faithfulness helped carry her through some of the hardest days, weeks, and months of grief.

Celebration does not require us to deny pain. Sometimes it simply helps us remember that pain is not the only thing that is true.

4 .Celebration Helps Us Appreciate the People God Has Given Us

When we stop to celebrate what God has done, we often begin to notice the people He used along the way.

This was one of my favorite parts of looking back over two years of Habits of Hope.

The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 1:3, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”

Paul wasn’t only grateful for what had been accomplished. He was grateful for the people who had partnered with him.

Celebration has a way of turning our attention outward.

When you look back at something God has done in your life, who is standing somewhere in the story? Who encouraged you, prayed for you, taught you something you needed to learn, or simply showed up when you needed them?

When I look back over the podcast, I see guests who generously shared their wisdom and stories. I see listeners who took what they heard and put it into practice. And I see Larissa—my friend since our military days in Okinawa—bringing her wisdom, laughter, enthusiasm, and gift for celebration into every part of this journey.

Celebrating with others is simply more fun. But it’s also more than that.

Celebrating God’s faithfulness gives us an opportunity to thank God for the people who have been part of His provision.

Maybe one way for you to celebrate today is simply to tell someone, I thank God for you.

 

5. Remembering God’s Faithfulness Gives Us Hope

Remembering God’s past faithfulness gives us courage to trust Him with what is still unfinished.

Looking back isn’t about living in the past. It helps us see the present differently.

When Larissa and I first talked about starting a podcast, there were seasons when the timing simply wasn’t right. We had both walked through difficult things and didn’t have the bandwidth to begin something new.

Later, timing wasn’t my only problem. Technology intimidated me. My husband used to call me “an analog girl in a digital world,” and honestly, that description fit pretty well.

At some point, though, I had to stop waiting until I felt completely equipped and capable.

I remember coming to the Lord and essentially saying, If this is something You want us to do, I’m going to trust You to help me learn what I need to learn.

We spent six months recording episodes before we ever published one. We learned. We made mistakes. We kept going.

And God developed capability as we were willing to begin.

Maybe there is something God has been leading you toward that feels intimidating. Maybe the learning curve feels too steep, or the timing hasn’t looked the way you expected. Maybe you’re doing exactly what He’s asked you to do, but the results don’t look impressive by the world’s standards.

Looking back at God’s faithfulness reminds us that we don’t have to see the entire path to take the next faithful step.

When we remember what God has done, we begin to recognize a pattern of faithfulness.

The God who was faithful then is with us now. And that gives us hope for what comes next.

How Can You Celebrate What God Has Done in Everyday Life?

Start by intentionally noticing what is good, what has changed, and where you can see evidence of God’s faithfulness.

Celebration doesn’t have to be elaborate. You don’t need a party, decorations, or a major milestone.

You might:

• Write down an answered prayer you don’t want to forget.
• Mark a small step of progress rather than waiting for the final result.
• Look back at where you were a year ago and notice how God has grown you.
• Celebrate someone’s growth or accomplishment with them.
• Thank someone who has been part of what God is doing in your life.
• Share a story of God’s faithfulness with your family.
• Pause at the end of the week and name what was good.
• Celebrate an ordinary joy simply because it is a gift from God.

We become better at celebrating when we practice noticing. Instead of constantly asking, What’s still missing? What’s still undone? What’s next? We can begin asking a different question:

What has God already done that I don’t want to rush past?

This Week’s Habit of Hope: Stop and Celebrate

Choose one area of your life that still feels unfinished and intentionally notice what God has already done there. Mark the milestone.

Maybe it’s your family, work, ministry, health, a relationship, a long-term goal, or your spiritual growth.

Instead of immediately focusing on how far you still have to go, stop for a few minutes and ask:

• Where have I seen God at work?
• What has changed?
• What have I learned?
• Who has God used along the way?
• What is good that I haven’t stopped to acknowledge?

Then thank Him. Celebrate the progress and the provision. Celebrate the person who walked beside you. Celebrate the grace that carried you through.

You don’t have to be finished to celebrate how far God has brought you. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

There will always be more to do, more to learn, and more ways to grow. But today, stop long enough to mark the milestone and thank God for His faithfulness.

Celebrate what God has done. Trust Him with what is still unfinished. And carry the hope of His faithfulness with you into whatever comes next.

Celebrate with Us!

Since this article grew out of the second birthday of the Habits of Hope podcast, I thought we should do more than talk about celebration. Let’s actually celebrate!

I’m giving one reader a Habits of Hope Birthday Celebration bundle filled with some of my favorite resources to help you cultivate faith, gratitude, meaningful relationships, and hope.

The winner will receive:

• A signed copy of Holy in the Moment + bookmark
• The Cultivating a Life You Love Devotional Journal PDF
• A Good Questions Conversation Card Set
• And a special sneak peek: you’ll be one of the very first to receive my brand-new Grateful Life Verse Set before it’s officially released!

Want to enter? Leave a comment below or reply to this week’s Habits of Hope/Ginger Harrington email to enter. One entry per person; I’ll randomly choose one winner from all entries on October 5, 2026.

Thank you for being part of this community and for celebrating two years of Habits of Hope with Larissa and me. We’re grateful you’re here—and excited to see what God will do in the year ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrating God’s Faithfulness

Here are a few common questions about what it means to remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in everyday life.

What does the Bible say about remembering what God has done?

Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to remember His works, goodness, and faithfulness. Psalm 103:2 tells us to “forget not all his benefits,” while Psalm 126:3 responds to God’s great works with gladness. Biblical remembrance helps us recognize God’s activity rather than taking His provision for granted.

Why is it important to celebrate God’s faithfulness?

Celebrating God’s faithfulness helps us notice His work, practice gratitude, gain perspective, appreciate others, and strengthen our hope. It gives us a reason to stop looking only at what remains unfinished and recognize what God has already done.

Is celebration a spiritual discipline?

Celebration can become a spiritual discipline when we intentionally practice noticing and responding to God’s goodness. Rather than waiting until we feel happy or something significant happens, we can choose to pause, remember, give thanks, and rejoice in God’s faithfulness.

Can I celebrate God’s goodness when life is hard?

Yes. Celebration doesn’t require us to deny grief, disappointment, or difficulty. Gratitude and grief can exist together. Celebrating God’s faithfulness in a hard season means recognizing that pain is real while also remembering that God’s goodness and presence are real.

What are some simple ways to remember God’s faithfulness?

Record answered prayers, revisit meaningful milestones, tell stories of God’s provision, thank people He has used in your life, and regularly pause to notice what is good. Simple practices of remembrance help us recognize God’s faithfulness in ordinary life rather than waiting only for major accomplishments or dramatic answers to prayer.

Mentioned in This Episode

1. Episode 80 — “Trusting God Through Doubt and Grief” — the conversation about Kelsey Chadwick and her book Where Else Could I Go. Larissa calls this her favorite unexpected conversation.
2. 10 Habits of Peace Series: A Complete Guide to Experiencing God’s Peace
3. Cultivating a Life You Love series — Ginger specifically mentions the recently completed summer series. Again, she references the series as a whole rather than individual episodes. Pasted markdown
4. Episode 78 — “How to Find Hope After Trauma” with Jennifer Hand. Larissa talks about Jen finding hope “in the literal rubble of people’s lives” and her ability to bring joy into difficult circumstances.
5. Upcoming interview with Travis Craver — The Hidden Beauty of Tears. This episode will be live October 13, 2026.
6. Episode 69: How to Scripture Journal: A Simple Rhythm for Everyday Quiet Time

About the Author

Ginger Harrington is an award-winning author, speaker, and host of the Habits of Hope podcast. In her book Holy in the Moment and through her writing and podcast, Ginger encourages women to notice God’s presence, remember His faithfulness, and cultivate practical habits that deepen faith and strengthen hope. She is also the creator of The Deeper Life Co., her Etsy shop featuring Scripture-centered resources designed to help women live their faith with intention in everyday life. Connect with Ginger at GingerHarrington.com.