How can I deal with regrets from my past?

BibleAsk Team

Dealing With Regrets From the Past

Many people wonder about the regrets of the past and what could have been. But, whenever a Christian prays for the Lord to lead his life, God instantly takes charge of the life and directs the events towards His good end. We may make mistakes, but our mistakes will never limit the Lord’s work when we submit to Him. Once the individual asks God to lead, the Lord does just that.

“And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them’ (Romans 8:28, emphasis added). Throughout history, God’s children have been able to see God’s goodness in all that they encountered ( Psalms 119:67, 71; Hebrews 12:11). At the end of his life, Joseph was able to say to his brothers, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20).

Knowing God’s goodness, the next thing is for us to practice faith in trusting Him. Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We are to leave the past in the past and look forward in faith.

Can we change the past? Of Course we can not, just as we can not add inches to our height (Jeremiah 13:23). Satan prompts us to look back at the past and torments us about our decisions, this often brings to us confusion, depression and sadness. But Christ calls us, instead, to look forward in hope and trust, having proved Himself throughout the Bible of how He can work all things for the good.

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In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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