Regrets

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16
Mar '20

Regrets

16
Mar '20

Honest Posts about Everyday Life Where We Learn to Be More Like Christ ~by Elizabeth Smith

I was 20 minutes into a bike workout, when the woman on the screen really started encouraging me to keep going. She had been doing it all along, but at this moment, she knew people like me were going to start giving out. It looked effortless for her, but I was pretty sure I might die. Sweat was pouring off me, my legs were aching, my heart rate was high and it was hard to breathe. The next thing she said was “Come on, give it all you’ve got! You will never regret giving it your all!” She might be right…This will make me stronger and healthier…I might not regret it. But at that moment, I really regretted placing my feet on those bike pedals. My body was not loving what was going on. However, her words stuck with me… “You will never regret giving it your all!”

 

What do you think about that statement? Do you have regrets? We all do. I mean, I regret not sticking with my fitness program last year. Here we are in the New Year, and oh how I wish I were fit and 20 pounds lighter. But, I’m not, and that’s on me. But, I’m not really talking about those kinds of regrets. Those are small regrets – things that we can still do something about if we really choose. I’m talking more about those big regrets. Those choices we have made that have ended badly for one reason or another and maybe have created some big life changes. Regrets are just that – choices WE have made that didn’t turn out so well. Unfortunately, we usually keep ourselves in bondage by continuing to hold onto those regrets…beating ourselves up for a decision we made…wishing we had never gone down that path. Sound familiar?

When we find ourselves in places such as these, we need to remember our first line of defense is God. Pray and then read His word. Here is one thing the Bible tells us:

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13 ESV

 

“Forgetting what lies behind.”

We were challenged in church one day about our regrets. “What do you regret?” our pastor asked. My mind started spinning. I had so many hurts from other people that I regretted so much. I spent the rest of that day sorting out my regrets one by one. When I really processed each one, I found an element of good that had come from every one of them. Some of them were tangible – like my children. I could regret ever marrying my first husband, but that path has brought me two wonderful children. I wouldn’t change that for anything. Some of my regrets have brought me closer to God – and that has been life changing. Another regret I had was that I have hurt others with my words and actions. I have asked for forgiveness from those people and have also asked God to forgive me.

Sorting through your regrets can be healing: Process them – find good – forgive yourself – let go. If there is still an opportunity to change something you regret – do it!

Back to my spin instructor’s comment – “You will never regret giving it your all!” My thoughts on this always come back to God! Give HIM your all. Go full force for God. Pursue Him. Serve Him. Worship Him. Talk to Him. TRUST Him. He is good and He has the power to heal your hurts. Let go of what you cannot change. Ask forgiveness. Change what you can.

We all have an end date, and when we get there, we do not want to regret not giving God our all. We want to be able to quote this verse:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:7 RSV

 

Please do not let your regrets keep you from moving forward. Do not live in the past. We cannot do anything about the past except learn from it. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Let God heal you. Move forward with God – giving Him your all!

 

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