Scripture

Psalm 32:1-2 (New Living Translation)

Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!

Consider

Living with regret weighs down our hearts and makes us weak. Regret is a curse we pronounce over ourselves. It is self-inflicted punishment that keeps us from experiencing the joy and peace we tell ourselves we do not deserve.

Webster’s dictionary defines regret as “sorrow aroused by circumstances beyond one’s control or power to repair.” Sorrow is a natural part of repentance that turns our hearts toward God when we realize we cannot fix our own sin. Regret settles in when we choose to punish ourselves rather than surrender to God’s mercy and accept his healing grace.

Some say the solution to the burden of regret is to forgive oneself. The real problem, however, lies in our lack of trust in God’s willingness to forgive us and his ability to wash us clean. Regret is sorrow for a circumstance beyond our control or power to repair. This is a profound spiritual statement. Crippling regret is evidence that we don’t understand or accept God’s sovereignty in our lives. We displace God as judge and sentence ourselves to punishment that never ends because our sin is beyond our ability to repair. This is what it means to live under a curse.

God’s Word tells us that God is sovereign not only in his role as Judge but even more as the Lover of our souls and the tender Caretaker of our lives. God’s greatest joy is to forgive us and reinstate our friendship with him. If you are struggling under the tyranny of regret, try shifting your attention from ruminations about your unhappy circumstance to thoughts of God. Whenever your mind starts down that familiar dark path, purposefully turn away and think about God instead. Read a psalm. Recite the Lord’s Prayer. Sing a familiar hymn of thanksgiving. Consider your blessings and realize that you have a Father who loves you and wants you to enjoy the goodness of life.

No matter what you do, God’s opinion of you and his purpose for your life will not change. Because he loves you, he is committed to bringing good out of your failures and blessing out of your disobedience as you learn to trust him and recognize his work in you. God will always have the last word over your deeds because he is your sovereign Lord. He stands ready with a plan to fold your mistakes and failures into the greater movement of his good purpose for you.

Pray

FATHER, I still have pain over some of the things I’ve done that I wish I hadn’t, decisions I’ve made that I wish I could go back and change. I’ve punished myself with regret over these misdeeds and unhappy circumstances, yet my sorrow lingers and will not release me. Break the chains of this curse over me, Holy Spirit. Build my faith to see that you are sovereign over my life in every way, especially over the deeds I would hide from you. Teach me to trust in your love for me so that I can receive the comfort of your forgiveness.

Reflect

Genesis 50:20; Matthew 11:28

Share

Over what circumstance in your life does regret still hold you prisoner? Write a prayer to God asking him to release you.