Your Emotional Health Mattersنموونە

Redeem Your Regrets

Have you ever made decisions you regretted? On 23 August 2012, the 7-time Tour De France Cycling Champion Lance Armstrong was found guilty of the use of banned drugs for almost 10 years. Lance was stripped of accolades and the chairman position of Livestrong Foundation. He admitted on the Oprah Winfrey interview that his decisions were motivated by ’a ruthless desire to win’ and how basing success on a lie had destroyed his life.

Regrets are missed opportunities. It could be a failed exam, missing out on your dream college, a broken relationship, a financial loss, the death of a loved one, or a bad career move. It might be caused by a poor choice you or a loved one made. When you break God’s rules for living, you’re bound to have regrets.

Regrets come with guilt, shame, and humiliation and may lead to serious consequences. Both Judas and Peter regretted turning their backs on Jesus and went through emotional trauma. But Judas chose to deal with his guilt by suicide while Peter repented and was recommissioned by Jesus. The results of their actions were different because their choices were different.

We are not perfect people, and we will make mistakes. But you and I have the power to choose to deal with the issue in the right way. God sees our pain and has set us free from the darkness of emotional hurt to bring us to a brighter future and crown us with honor (Isaiah 61:2-3). Today, choose to move forward rather than focusing on your regrets. How?

First, believe that God doesn’t condemn you for your weaknesses. In fact, he can use you despite those weaknesses. Second, choose to believe that God strengthens you to overcome your regrets. Third, ask God for your needs and choose to move forward. We are not captives of regrets but ‘delivered achievers’!

The lyrics of a song, ‘Deliverance’ come to mind:

Jesus, you are my deliverance
From death to life,
From dark to light
Jesus, you show me what freedom is
You call my name,
You broke my shame
You are my deliverance

To Consider:

Identify five regrets and claim a scripture to heal the emotional pain it has caused. Allow God to redeem lost time. It’s time for your regrets to be removed today.