Have you seen people wearing t-shirts or with tattoos displaying the words: “NO REGRETS?” While the level of regret may vary for person to person, everybody will deal with it at some point in their life.
I’m often asked if I have any regrets about spending nearly 35 years of my life in prison for a crime my cousin committed? My answer is Yes and No. I do regret the decision I made that night to go with him to the bar, but I do not regret having to serve the time in prison I was sentenced to. This answer produces the same reactions every time. They look at me in amazement and disbelief so I assure them I really don’t. When asked how I simply share that God has forgiven me my sins through His Son Jesus which enables me to forgive others. I know that my sin against God is far greater than any sin against me. So, I work hard to forgive as I have been forgiven much.
I’m convinced when the Lord says in 1 John 1:19 “when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Regret has to do with our past, and I know a good place to start overcoming regret is with the One who has forgiven it and holds our future in the palm of his hand. Forgiveness will cause the grip of Regret to let go. I pray that regret will not have a hold on any of you and that you will practice forgiveness always.