regrets

2008 was a horrific year.  it seems like everybody i’ve talked to lately has regrets.  they play the “if only” game - if only i had not done that, if only i would have not bought that new car, if only i had not bailed on that relationship.  regrets are the bad feelings we have about the mistakes we made, the disappointments we suffered, and the sins we committed.  we usually try to bury our regrets, blame others for regrets or (if you are like me) we beat ourselves up and inflict self punishment.  “i am ashamed of my past… will i ever break free?”  jeremiah 31:19

have you ever heard someone tell you “you have to bury the past”?  it is impossible - you can’t bury your past regrets.  just like in a horror movie, everything you bury seems to resurrect and come after you.  if we can’t bury them, we blame others (”you are always ready to accuse others and find fault with them.”  psalm 50:20).  usually we find the 10% wrong someone else has done and focus on that.  but the reality is that we are 90% at fault and as we accuse others we excuse ourselves.   most of us simply beat ourselves up with the mistakes and mess-ups of our past.  after david sinned, he wrote “i am drowning in the flood of my sins, they are a burden too heavy to bear.  because i have been foolish, i’m utterly worn out and crushed, my heart is heavy.”  psalm 38:4-8

there is only one antidote to past mistakes and regrets - to confess it and move on.  psalm 32:5 says, “then i let it all out; i said, i’ll make a full confession to God.  Suddenly the pressure was gone - my guilt dissolved my sin disappeared.”  as we confess our faults, mistakes and regrets to God we suddenly get forgiveness, relief and peace.  God forgives us instantly, completely and permanently (”…i will remember your sins no more…”  jeremiah 31:34).  “No matter how deep the stain of your sins, i can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow.”  isaiah 1:8  

i want to encourage you to give all your regrets to God by accepting his forgiveness, forgiving yourself and focusing on the future.  ”the Lord says, do not cling to the events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.  watch for the new thing i am going to do.”  isaiah 43:18-19.  “no one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”  isaiah 49:23

as 2008 fades away and 2009 unfolds - i pray you look up, let go and have the greatest year of your life!