What makes you feel nostalgic?
Nostalgia (general definition):
Nostalgia is a sentimental longing for the past—memories, moments, people, sounds, places, or experiences that evoke a deep emotional connection. It can feel comforting, reflective, and sometimes bittersweet. Psychologically, nostalgia helps humans preserve identity, relive meaning, and emotionally reconnect with what shaped them.
But for a believer, nostalgia is not meant to be an emotional museum of loss.
⛪ What Is Nostalgia for a Christian?
For a Christian, nostalgia is a spiritual instrument of remembrance. It is not simply “I miss what I had,” but rather:
“I remember what God did.”
The Bible repeatedly commands believers to remember—not to mourn the past, but to rehearse God’s faithfulness.
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands.” (Psalm 143:5, KJV)
“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11, KJV)
So Christian nostalgia is testimony-centered, not trauma-centered.
📍 What Nostalgia Should Be for a Christian
Christian nostalgia should:
Preserve God’s glory, not your grief Strengthen faith, not sabotage it Build expectation for the future, not bitterness from the past Rehearse victories, not replay losses
Because the goal is not to return to the past, but to draw proof from it.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV)
Meaning: If He was faithful before, He is more than able now.
🧭 What the Bible Says About the Purpose of Remembrance
God instructed Israel to build memory stones after crossing Jordan—not to live there, but to carry the testimony forward:
“Take you twelve stones… that this may be a sign among you… that ye may remember.” (Joshua 4:6–7, KJV)
The Bible honors remembrance when it points to God, teaches His ways, and preserves testimony for the next generation.
However, Scripture also warns against dwelling on the past in a way that produces spiritual stagnation:
“Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…” (Philippians 3:13, KJV)
This doesn’t mean erasing memory, but refusing to let memory become a chain instead of a compass.
✨ The Benefit of Sanctified Nostalgia
When nostalgia is sanctified, it becomes:
A Faith Booster
It reminds you that:
God has been good God has been present God has been faithful God has delivered God has answered
A Gratitude Igniter
Instead of: “I lost it…”
You say: “God gave it, sustained me through it, and taught me from it.”
Instead of longing for what was, you declare:
“The God who did it before will do greater now.”
⚠ How to Avoid Letting Nostalgia Become Loss
Nostalgia becomes loss when:
It glorifies what ended instead of Who remains It magnifies pain instead of purpose It stalls your obedience It steals your thanksgiving It kills expectation
To avoid this, Scripture gives the key: remember, but reach forward.
Use nostalgia to: Build gratitude Draw lessons Strengthen identity in Christ Fuel testimony Ignite expectation Encourage others
Don’t use nostalgia to:
Mourn endlessly Compare God’s past moves to limit His present work Live in regret Stop walking in faith
🧠 Shift the Question from “What did I lose?” to “What did God reveal?”
Because: The past should be proof, not prison Memory should build momentum, not mourning Reflection should produce revelation, not regret
My Christian Response
What makes me nostalgic are moments where God’s faithfulness left a lasting mark on my soul.
I feel nostalgic when I remember:
The early days of discovering Christ, when my heart first caught fire for Him and everything about God felt new, weighty, and wonder-filled Dream Centre gatherings across Europe—the prayers, the unity, the service coordination, the labour of love in maintaining divine structures, the sacrifices behind the scenes, and seeing God build His Church through community Worship streams and voice of God’s servant —especially teachings and ministrations from my father Reverend Olusola Areogun, that carried clarity, stirred conviction, and strengthened my spiritual walk
Memories of home, family moments, celebrations, and traditions that remind me not of what has passed, but how God preserved, provided, and carried me through every season
For me, nostalgia is not about loss—it is about evidence.
The Bible shows me how to handle it rightly:
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands.” (Psalm 143:5, KJV)
So I don’t just remember the past—I trace God in it.
And because I know:
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8, KJV)
My nostalgia becomes a declaration:
If God was good then, He will be greater now.
If He answered before, He is answering again.
If His wonders shaped my memories, His goodness will crown my future.
I refuse to let nostalgia become mourning.
Instead, I let it become thanksgiving, testimony, and expectation.
How it benefits me as a believer
It charges my faith, because remembrance of God’s works silences doubt
It ignites gratitude, which keeps my heart soft and aligned
It teaches me, so the past serves me without trapping me
It inspires others, because testimony is hope shared forward, not pain carried backward
My Final Posture
My nostalgia is:
A memorial of God’s mercy A rehearsal of His wonders A reminder of lessons learned A faith-builder, not a faith-killer A launchpad into greater expectation, not a retreat into regret
🙏 Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of remembrance.
Let every memory of the past reveal Your mercy, Your hand, and Your faithfulness.
I refuse to idolize what has passed or mourn what has ended.
Let nostalgia become fuel for testimony, strength for my faith, and fire for my future.
Let the past serve me without stealing from me.
I move forward with gratitude, not grief.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The Message Bearer (SmilingPreacher), Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 