Living with Regretsby Melissa J | More from this Blogger 16 Oct 2006 09:54 AM Many walk in shame and embarrassment from their past wrong doings. I want you to know if you have repented, God's desire is not to condemn you (Romans 8:1-3). If you're feeling condemnation, you need to recognize the enemy of your soul and rebuke him. I want you to please look at Psalm 103:10-13: "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him." As you have asked for forgiveness, please know God is not mad at you. I love the later part of this scripture and how it shows a correlation of a father and God. I would also like you to look at another scripture from Hebrews 4:13-16: "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." I'm sure Satan would love to see you wallow in self-pity over your past. There is nothing productive about doing that. If you can be enslaved to your regrets, you are in a perfect position for the enemy to beat you down into a depression and lure you from coming to Christ. We make mistakes. Only Christ is perfect, but He understands! He was tempted as we are and He knows our sins. It's not just because He sees all, but He bore our sins; He carried them on the cross. It likely wasn't God's will that the regrettable thing(s) happened, but we can be assured by Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Please know there is no situation in your life that is too big for God to deliver you from. I personally know this. The God who created the earth which was void, without form, in darkness before He created paradise, can form you too if you'll allow Him. How awesome it is to serve a God who understands! Though we can't undo the hurt we may have caused others, we can ask them to forgive us and we can forgive ourselves. God often does allow opportunities to turn our "wrong" into "right" making something that was once broken, into something that can bring glory to Him. Don't let your regrets cause you to run from God, but rather, run to God. All scripture reference is quoted from the NKJV. Relevantchristian tags User Comments  Megan Bayliss (3586) 17 Oct 2006 02:23 AMMJ I am no longer a practising Christian but your blog has struck a chord with me (no, not enough to make me run to a pastoral counsellor). Your gentle nature and acceptance of faith is truely inspirational. One of my supervisees recently said: I don't do remorse, I do intelligent regret. Your blog has echoed her sentiment. Do not run from your regret, run to it with an informed decision. Beautiful and potently poignant article.  Melissa J (13710) 17 Oct 2006 12:42 PMThank you :) ... "not enough to make me run to a pastoral counselor" LOL :) Megan, I pray the Lord is the One to guide you in the way He'd have you go, esspecially as you bless others through your work. I like the "I don't do remose, I do intelligent regret". That's cool. Community Tags depression, forgiveness, guilt, regret, shame Discuss this article
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