Regret
Webster defines regret as “sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one’s control or power to repair”. I found Webster’s definition limiting. Regret can result from circumstances we cannot control. But I find myself carrying regret from circumstances that I had some control over.
Haunting regrets
I reflect on my past and remember times I could have responded differently to a person. I said words I could not take back, or did not say words I should have spoken. In both situations, a relationship fractured or broke completely. I regret the damage my choices caused.
I regret time wasted, opportunities missed. The truth about life: we cannot go back in time. We cannot change the choices we made. Regret wants to make us feel shame, sorrow. A lot of times, we get stuck with those feelings. The truth about regret, no matter how big or small: it keeps us living with shame.
Breaking free of regrets
How do we break free from the regret that imprisons us?
I am not a therapist. That said, I believe we can work at releasing regret from plaguing our minds. We confront and acknowledge our regret. As we do this, we allow regret to teach us. The past cannot change but we can. We can learn from our regret like we learn from our mistakes.
I am not God. I do believe God allows certain things to happen for reasons that are not always evident to us. He allows us to make choices He knows we will regret later. Regrets, like suffering, are inherently part of human life on this earth.
When we have trouble releasing regrets, we can ask for God’s help and strength to do so. Wasted time? God can redeem. We can ask Him to slow time in our day and equip us to make up for any time we wasted. When we honor God and trust in His character, He responds faithfully, extending grace.
Prayer
Lord, Your Word says distress drives us to You, turns us around and gets us back in the way of salvation. Help us learn from our past regrets and release them. Focus our eyes toward what is ahead, pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which You called us heavenward, in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 7:10, Philippians 3:13-14
Love it as it’s perfectly imperfectly timed with me feeling regret for a few choices I made these past few weeks!
Feel it, learn from it, release it and move on. Regret is kind of like forgiveness. Both difficult to do at times. Both try to keep us in bondage. Sometimes, as we move forward in life, they smack us in the face, requiring us to forgive/release regret once again!
Hi Penny, I especially enjoyed reading this blog. I guess as fallible humans we all make mistakes, some big and some small. I appreciated your insight into regret. Thank you.
Fallible is such a good word to describe us! Thank you for your posting your insights.