Most of us live in a world of endless photos, overflowing entries in our notes app (mine—mostly untitled), and scattered apps that claim to do everything you need and more.
But if you asked me what I was praying about three years ago—or the moment I knew God was leading me to build a faith brand like FIFTYTWO—I’d have to hand you my physical journals.
I almost gave up on FIFTYTWO right before launching our crowdfunding campaign. Fear had me frozen. Then the Holy Spirit nudged me to open my old journals. I flipped to what I thought was a random page in my silver Christian Lacroix booklet—but it wasn’t. It was a prayer list from two years ago about what I sensed God calling me to do. Back then, FIFTYTWO had no name—it was just a dream. In that moment, I knew: I couldn’t quit. God was asking me to keep going, even if I failed or looked weird.
Page after page confirmed it. There were plenty of times I felt inadequate, and there will be more, but those journals gave me proof that God has always been faithful.
Why Physical Memory Matters
Technology isn’t the enemy. Digital tools connect us, store our lives, and hold our stories. But when they become the only way we remember, we lose depth and sight of the visceral moments that shape us.
Researchers call this digital amnesia, or the Google Effect: the more we rely on devices to remember, the less we remember ourselves (Sparrow et al., 2011).
Countering this with physical, intentional memory—like writing something down or preserving a piece of your day—has more benefits than just being nostalgic. Research shows it matters for how we feel, what we remember, and how deeply we can trace God’s faithfulness:
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Journaling consistently has been shown to lower anxiety and stress and help with emotional clarity (Smyth et al., 2018).
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Writing by hand strengthens memory retention because the act of forming letters, reflecting, and revisiting your own handwriting slows you down (Marano, 2025).
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Keeping tangible memory acts—like prayer scribbles, photos, quotes—helps us see patterns in our life, not just data but personal testimonies.
These small, physical markers become unique mementos—proof that God is near, attentive, and faithful to His creations.
A Different Kind of Archive
If you’re ready to step away from the digital noise and really notice God at work, start small. Archiving shouldn’t be complicated—it’s just capturing the moments that matter and making them tangible. Try:
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Writing a prayer before your day begins or before you go to sleep.
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Taping in a photo or receipt from a moment you’re grateful for.
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Drawing something inspired by a moment that moves you.
To go a little further, whether you have a FIFTYTWO journal or just want to start noticing, try these prompts:
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What small moment this week reminded you God is near?
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Which prayer, thought, or insight do you want to revisit? (Maybe a forgotten screenshot of a verse?)
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What ordinary thing this week—sunset, conversation, coffee, quiet space—told you something about His love? Or, what’s one thing you can do this week to make His love plain to you?
These small entries create more than a record. They build a rhythm of seeing God in the ordinary and carry proof of His faithfulness—even when the world tries to drown it out.
So, go out there and be a light. Archive your heart.
References
Marano, G. (2025). The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11943480/
Smyth, J. M., et al. (2018). Online Positive Affect Journaling in the Improvement of Mental Distress and Well-Being in General Medical Patients with Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6305886/
Sparrow, B., Liu, J., & Wegner, D. M. (2011). Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips. Science, 333(6043), 776-778. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21764755/
