Regret

Regret’s a funny thing. I’ve heard different takes on it from different people. Some saying that they have no regrets because they would not be who they are today without those decisions. Others saying they regret things, but choose to not let those things rule their lives. Others letting regrets tear them up inside on a daily basis. “If I just had done this, that would have happened, or wouldn’t have happened.” “If I had not said that thing, I would have this, that , or him. I would be happy.” While it’s true that our decisions carve our paths in this life, it’s also true that there is a compassionate and merciful God ready to take the pain away and carve a new path for us. A path where we walk with Him and towards Him. A path that we may not always be happy on, but in those times we can lean into Him and He will comfort us and give us a joy rooted deep in His love.

I’m sure Peter had regrets, he denied Jesus three times in his darkest hours. But if Peter had let those decisions overtake him, he would have missed out on the great plans God had for him and for those he reached.

I guess my take on regret is that yes, unfortunately there are things I regret, but I will choose to learn from those things, forgive myself, forgive others and move forward in the path that He has carved for me. A path that I know will lead to incredible highs and dark lows and places in between. But I know that God will be there with me the entire way. I can trust His word that He will never leave me or forsake me (Deut. 31:6, 31:8, Joshua 1:5, 1 Kings 8:57, Hebrews 13:5),  that He will not leave me as an orphan (John 14:18), and that I can trade my ashes for His beauty (Isaiah 61:3).