Looking Back

Today, we’re talking about: Looking Back

You ever find yourself scrolling through old photos or hearing a song that takes you straight back to a moment you forgot you remembered?

Today we’re talking about looking back—not to live in the past, but to learn from it, laugh at it, and thank God for how far we’ve come. Because sometimes, the best way to find strength for today is to remember how faithful He’s been all along.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane—faith edition.

We’re looking back—not with regret, but with perspective. Because even the messy parts of our past have something to teach us.

My first job was working as a cashier at a local pharmacy. I was in that high school stage of “finding myself,” and I didn’t know anyone there. But one of the ladies befriended me. She knew I went to church, and she invited me to a church event. Despite our age difference and my anxious personality, God used her and gave me peace about going. Looking back now, I can see that God gave me a friend who helped keep me on track. He works through every season—and He uses everyone.

Ever heard a song, smelled something, or looked at a photo and suddenly remembered so much? For me, it’s 90’s music—it just hits differently. Especially 90’s Christian music. It takes me back to riding the church bus to camp, and that’s where some of my favorite memories were made.

What is it that takes you back to a moment where God showed up in your life?

God often told His people to remember—because looking back builds faith. When we recall His past provision, it fuels future trust.

The word remember appears in the Bible over 1,200 times. That tells me God really wanted us to hold on to what He’s said, where we’ve been, and how He’s worked.

Remembering helps us adjust. It helps us grow. And when we look back, we often see His fingerprints all over the moments we didn’t understand at the time.

Learning from the past doesn’t mean living in it. It means asking, What did God teach me through that season?

Rearview mirrors are small for a reason—they’re meant to help us glance back without losing sight of what’s ahead.

So don’t live in the past—but don’t ignore it either. Let it give you perspective, not punishment. Let it lift you up, not drag you down.

We all have cringe-worthy moments in our faith journey. But God doesn’t hold those over our heads—He uses them to build us.

God can turn laundry baskets of regret into clean slates of grace.

My path has had plenty of missteps, and I’m so grateful for the patience and grace God shows as He corrects and guides me.

Isaiah 46:9 (NLT) — “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

Think back 5 or 10 years—how have you grown? Where has God refined you?

Social media memories, prayer journals, or even old journals in general can be powerful reminders of how far we’ve come. Those stories bring back the memories—and show how much we’ve changed.

Even if you don’t feel it today, God’s been planting seeds for growth all along.

And sometimes we don’t notice the growth until we look back and realize just how far He’s brought us.

So why does looking back matter?

Because it helps us walk forward—with more courage, more clarity, and more gratitude.

God tells us to remember not because He needs the reminder, but because we do.

Isaiah 46:9 (NLT) — “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.”

When you’re unsure about the future, just take a glance back at the track record of a faithful God.

Sometimes we don’t see the blessing in a moment until it’s far behind us.

When I think back, I’m sure there are so many things I said or did that rippled out—for better or worse. Maybe some of them were blessings I didn’t recognize at the time because I was too focused on the path—or they were so small I missed them.

But God sees it all. And His plans? They’re always greater than mine.

The same God who walked with you through your past is already in your future. That truth brings peace.

Looking back reminds us that no matter where we go next—we don’t go alone.

So take a moment today and remember something good from your past. Thank God for it.

God’s hand is always on us—always directing, always guiding, and always working for our good.

He’s not just the God of your future—He’s the God of your past, too.

He was there in the middle school awkwardness, the heartbreak, the career change, the mess-ups, and the breakthroughs.

Looking back isn’t about getting stuck—it’s about celebrating how far He’s brought you.

And friend—He’s not done yet.