Regret can feel like a shadow that won’t leave. You know you’re forgiven, but certain memories still sting. Maybe it’s a decision you wish you could undo, a relationship you mishandled, or a season you wasted. You’ve moved on, but the past keeps tapping you on the shoulder.
So how do you deal with regret as a follower of Jesus?
First, start with what’s true. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” You are not your worst mistake. You are not the sum of what you did or didn’t do. In Christ, you’re new, fully forgiven, and fully loved.
But sometimes the hardest part is forgiving yourself. That’s where grace comes in. Not grace as a concept, but grace as a daily decision. You may not be able to go back and change the past, but you can choose how you carry it forward.
Regret doesn’t have to define you, but it can refine you. God wastes nothing, not even your biggest mess. He can use the things you regret to grow wisdom, humility, and compassion in you. The same pain that once held you back can now help someone else move forward.
If you’re struggling with regret, talk to God about it honestly. Let Him speak into the places where shame still tries to linger. And if needed, talk to someone you trust, whether it be a pastor, mentor, or counselor who can help you process and heal.
You can’t rewrite the past. But you can let God redeem it.
Don’t let regret keep you stuck in a story that God already rewrote with grace. Walk forward with your head high, and your heart open. He’s not finished with you yet.
You can write the Pastor at pastorbilly@findtruelife.com.