Happy Friday!
I had the privilege of preaching on Psalm 42 this past Sunday, and—as often happens when preparing to preach—this passage became even sweeter to me.
This famous psalm of lament offers hope for our past, present, and future. One of the most encouraging parts for me was seeing the hope this passage offers when nostalgia tempts us to believe our best days are behind us.
After lamenting the loss of former times of joy (see v. 4), the psalmist refocuses his hope on God’s future provisions: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (vv. 5–6).
When nostalgia tempts us to despair, refocusing our minds on God and his promises is crucial. Whereas nostalgia says, “Your best days are behind you—you must get back to them!” The Gospel says, “Your best days are ahead of you—you must only be patient.”
Nostalgia is like fire. A little bit, if contained, warms the heart. But if you indulge it—if you dwell on it, obsessing over your past—it will burn you alive. Rather than obsessively longing for the sweet times of the past, we must thank God for those times, then press on toward the prize ahead (see Philippians 3:13–15).
I love how C.S. Lewis describes this reality (I expound on this quote in my sermon):
These things—the beauty, the memory of our own past—are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshipers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.
The ultimate fulfillment of our deepest longings won’t come from getting back to our past, but from stepping into the joys God has in store for us in the future.
Will you join me today in thanking God for his past provisions and looking forward in hope of his future provisions? Say with the psalmist, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”
You can watch the sermon on YouTube or listen on SoundCloud or Apple Podcasts (the sermon begins at the 15:30 mark).
I pray the Lord blesses you through his Word!
~Blake
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Blake Glosson (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is an assistant campus pastor at Chapelstreet Church in Geneva, Illinois. He has been published and/or republished or referred by:
- The Gospel Coalition
- Life Bible
- Crosswalk
- Eternal Perspective Ministries (Randy Alcorn)
- Challies.com/Tim Challies (here, here, here, and here)
- Moody Radio (here, here, and here)
- The JOY FM (here and here)
- DashHouse/Darryl Dash (here and here)
- The Aquila Report (here, here, and here)
- ChurchLeaders.com
- Monergism.com
Previously, Blake served as the director of young adults at New Covenant Bible Church in St. Charles, Illinois.
Read to “Which Memories Should I Dwell On?” here.
Read “Five Habits that Kill Contentment” here.
Read “Why Does God Say No to Good Things?” here.
Watch or listen to more of Blake’s sermons here.
Feel free to drop a comment below with thoughts or questions!