Restoration: Renewing Brokenness into Beauty

Written by Betsy Sunny

Day 1: The Weight of Regret

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51:1)

Regret is an anchor. It keeps us tethered to what has already happened, replaying moments over and over as if, by sheer force of thought, we could rewrite history. But no amount of reflection, self-blame, or wishing can change the past.

David knew this feeling well. In Psalm 51, he doesn't exclusively admit his wrongs; he feels their weight. He's not just sorry; he's broken over what he has done. Regret does that. It carves into us, making us wonder if things can ever be as they were before.

If you've ever worked on a project: writing, painting, building, you know the frustration of realizing something is off. A sentence is off, a color clashes and a design feels wrong. You sit there, staring at it, knowing something needs to change but hesitating—because to fix it means to undo what's already been done. It means admitting it wasn't right the first time. Changing it means undoing work. Regret works the same way; it tempts us to leave things untouched because fixing them feels too costly.

Regret can feel like that moment stretched into eternity. But there is a way forward, and it starts with naming what needs to change—not rewriting the past but allowing for a new beginning. Psalm 51 shows us that regret isn't meant to be a prison. It is the starting point to a pathway of freedom.

Take a moment to watch this short film, "Restoration":

Reflection:

Re-read Psalm 51 twice, first read it silently and then again out loud. Pay attention to any verses or words that stick out to both times. Then consider these reflection questions.

• Have you ever resisted change because it meant undoing something you worked hard for?
• What would it look like to honestly bring this regret to God—without pretense, just as it is?