The ‘Good Old Days’ are now
“Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.”
ECCLESIASTES 7:10
My favorite kind of day is one spent with a good book, a hot cup of coffee, and a cozy blanket draped across my lap creating the perfect place for the dog to curl up and nap.
I remember when I was younger, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I longed for my own place, my own money, and the freedom to go and do whatever I wanted. Back then, I was certain I would never be the kind of person to sit still. I would always be busy; always on the go.
And yet, now that I have those things (along with a few more years), I find that what I want most is the comforts of home.
It makes me wonder… are these the ‘good old days’, or were they a few years back?
I remember my parents talking about those “good old days”; when gas cost 36 cents a gallon, appliances were built to last a lifetime, and there was no such thing as social media.
However, Ecclesiastes 7:10 gently challenges that way of thinking. It reminds us that longing for the past isn’t always wise.
Perhaps the “good old days” are not behind us at all. Perhaps they are right here.
The ‘good old days’ just might be the ones we’re living in now — if we choose to recognize the richness of each moment, instead of wishing for what has already passed or even what may come in the future.
Sometimes days are heavy, world events are looming, the total cost of our bills add up to more than our income, we suffer broken relationships, sickness, or simply have unmet expectations. They all weigh us down and can lead us to revisit the days of long ago when life seemed simpler. The same is true when we only think about the future and what might be. Worry, anxiety, and stress about future events can steal today’s joy. What if the very trials of today are what we need to better meet our future? What if Jesus is here, right in this moment with us ready to help us through our trials but all we are doing is living in the past? And when we do these things, we miss His presence right now.
When we fix our attention on the past or worry about the future, we are trying to carry things that belong to God. The past is gone and He holds the future in His hands. He knows what we will need and when we will need it. We don’t have to figure it all out. He will guide us, one step at a time.
We can easily be tempted to romanticize the past, but Ecclesiastes 7:10 warns us: “Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” This verse reminds us that nostalgia can distort reality and pull us away from the value of the present.
We also see this in Exodus 16:3, “The Israelites said to them, If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”. The Israelites, though freed from slavery, found themselves complaining in the wilderness. They longed for the ‘good old days’ in Egypt—forgetting that those days were marked by bondage.
And in the New Testament, Jesus offers a simple but powerful reminder in Matthew 6:34, “therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus reminds us to focus on today and not be consumed by worry about the future.
Simply put: count today’s blessings.
Let’s commit to live fully in this moment—today—recognizing the joy and goodness right in front of us. It’s okay to look forward to tomorrow, but don’t miss what God is doing right now. When we spend this moment pining for the past or longing for the future, we miss the beauty He has placed before us.
Don’t miss God in each moment. Imagine Him sitting next to you, longing for you to turn in His direction. He is leaning in and waiting to gently say, “Let’s just focus on today. My presence, right here, right now, is enough. Trust Me, one moment at a time.”
