Gratitude Anchors Us in the Now
Friday, October 11
Gratitude Anchors Us in the Now
Don’t long for ‘the good old days.’ This is not wise. Ecclesiastes 7:10
In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in nostalgia, longing for what we believe were “the good old days.” We can idealize the past, convincing ourselves that things were better, easier, or more fulfilling back then. We see this in the Old Testament. After God miraculously delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, they found themselves in the wilderness, being sustained by manna from heaven. Day after day, God faithfully provided for their needs, yet, instead of focusing on His provision, they began to complain and long for the things they left behind. In Numbers 11:5, they lamented, “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.” They glorified their past, conveniently forgetting the brutal conditions of their slavery.
This longing for the “good old days” blinded them to their reality. Yes, Egypt had pomegranates and fish, but it also came with chains, hard labor, and suffering. They failed to recognize the freedom and divine provision they were experiencing in the present because they were too focused on the past. They missed the fact that even though they were in a desert, God was taking care of them in ways they had never known before. He was leading them to the Promised Land, but their grumbling hearts kept looking back, making them blind to the blessings of the present.
Just like the Israelites, we can be tempted to glorify certain aspects of our past while conveniently forgetting the pain or limitations that came with it. We look back with rose-colored glasses, longing for things that, in reality, were not as perfect as we remember. This keeps us from seeing the good things God is doing now. Ecclesiastes 7:10 reminds us that this kind of thinking isn’t wise. When we dwell on “the good old days,” we neglect the blessings God is providing for us today.
Gratitude is the antidote to this mindset. Our Pastor often says it this way ‘gratitude is the seed for more.’ It grounds us in the present and helps us focus on what God is doing right here, right now. Even in seasons of struggle or uncertainty, God is at work, providing exactly what we need to grow, trust Him more, and move forward. We may not always like the “manna” He gives us, but it is sustaining us and moving us toward His greater purposes.
As we prepare our hearts for the days ahead, may we look to out situations with a heart of thanksgiving.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me to release my grip on the past and embrace the present with gratitude. Open my eyes to see the beauty in this moment and the blessings You have placed before me today. I trust that You are with me now, working all things for good, and I ask for Your guidance to live fully and joyfully in the present. Thank you for what You are doing right now. In this moment we praise Your name. Amen.