When I absolutely have no idea for this blog, I randomly search the internet for inspiration and come up with something to repost. But other times, something in my own life triggers thoughts and the blog sort of starts writing itself in my mind.
New Year’s Day I was working in my booth in an Antique Mall. Rearranging, restocking and replacing Christmas with Valentines’ and Spring. It gave me this crazy sense of nostalgia. My mother owned a bookstore. Every New Year’s Day, while the store was closed, we’d do a full inventory. Just her and I – all day. I miss those days. It’s a great memory of time with my mother.
Driving back from my booth, I felt an overwhelming sense of nostalgia – of memory. It gave me a sense of comfort.
I wondered what does the bible say about nostalgia, or does it even mention it?
While the Bible doesn’t explicitly use the word “nostalgia,” it addresses the concepts of remembering the past, longing for the past, and the dangers of dwelling on the past.
Nostalgia and the Bible:
- Ecclesiastes 7:10 warns against comparing the past favorably to the present:
“Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” This verse suggests that dwelling on the past can be unwise and lead to discontent.
- Isaiah 43:18-19 encourages moving forward and forgetting the past:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” This passage suggests that God is working in the present and that we should focus on the future rather than dwelling on past experiences.
- The Bible emphasizes remembering God’s past faithfulness and promises:
Deuteronomy 32:7 encourages remembering the past to teach future generations. God’s faithfulness in the past is a foundation for hope and trust in the present and future.
Nostalgia as a Spiritual Concept:
- Nostalgia can be a healthy reminder of God’s past work: Remembering God’s faithfulness can strengthen our faith and trust in him.
- Nostalgia can be a sign of a longing for home: Some see nostalgia as a longing for heaven, a yearning for the perfect future that God has promised.
- Nostalgia can be a reminder of the fallen nature of this world: The Bible talks about the fall of man and the longing for a better future, which can be seen as a form of nostalgia.
While the Bible encourages us to focus on the present and future, remembering God’s faithfulness in the past can be a true reinforcement in trusting Him in the future.
Yet, most of what I read described nostalgia as an “aching for home” or the past, and Solomon knew how dangerous that is. In Ecclesiastes, he says explicitly, “Don’t long for the ‘good old days. ‘ This is not wise.”
God once said to his backward-looking people, “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18)
Now just wait a minute. I love nostalgia. I love the feeling of it, the warmth and comfort. So, as we often do, I checked with gotquestions.org to see what they had to say.
***Nostalgia is an acute sentimental longing for the past, either one’s own past or a past time in history. Usually, the feeling of nostalgia is accompanied by (or brought on by) the belief that the world was better in a bygone era or that a previous time in one’s life was superior to one’s current situation. A yearning for “the good old days” is a nostalgic feeling, and it’s a normal feeling to have sometimes. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon addresses the comparing of past with present: “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10). Is Solomon saying that nostalgia is unwise or that being nostalgic is wrong? If so, why?
What Solomon seems to be addressing in Ecclesiastes 7:10 is not the feeling of nostalgia per se but the foolish attitude it can sometimes foster. Sometimes we all feel that the past was better in some way than the present. Especially during times of trial, it’s easy for us to remember ourselves as happier or more fulfilled than we are currently. But we tend to have selective memories. Every day has its trouble (Matthew 6:34). Things weren’t quite as rosy as we paint them to be in retrospect.
When a person allows a feeling of nostalgia to consume him, it can lead to all kinds of unhelpful and unfruitful behavior. Living in the past is a form of losing touch with reality. We are called to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16) and to be waiting for the good future God has promised, diligently doing good and seeking peace (2 Peter 3:11–14; Romans 2:7). To dwell on the past or obsess over former days is to yearn for something we can never attain, and that can only end in heartbreak. Better than dwelling in a nostalgic, half-true picture of the past is focusing on God’s work in the present and His rock-solid promises for the future. We have a home in heaven, where, as David puts it, there is “fullness of joy” and “pleasures forevermore” in the presence of God (Psalm 16:5–6, 11).
Nostalgia, the longing emotion, is not sinful—no emotion on its own is sinful. But nostalgia can tempt us to dwell in the past and make us ineffective in the present. Soldiers for Christ do not get “entangled in civilian pursuits,” and this is exactly what happens when we get too wrapped up in asking “why can’t things just be as they used to be?” (see 2 Timothy 2:4). Paul did not waste time reliving “the good old days”; rather, he said, “One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal” (Philippians 3:13–14). We, too, should engage the present and look forward to the future. We have “a living hope” and “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade . . . kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3–4). ***
Well, this I understand. Sometimes, it is easy to look at the past with rose-colored glasses. We miss people or places. I miss my mother and our times at the bookstore, particularly during the holidays. A quick visit to the past, warm memories are to be cherished. And then we are to look to the future trusting in the Lord.
For God and you,
Deb Bostwick
Singles Blogger