Speaking about regrets
Regrets
Regrets can creep into our minds at the most unexpected moments. Ever catch yourself thinking, ‘If only…’? Those two little words carry a weight we often can’t bear.
Yes, those two little bad words, “if only,” have power. They need to be banished from our vocabulary.
Sure, we all have a few regrets, don’t we?
If only I had said yes… or no.
If only I had called yesterday.
If only I had visited.
If only I had told her.
If only I had made a point to talk to her about her salvation.
Yes, they’re little bad words that have the power to humble you.
The power to put you in a bad mood.
The power to bring a marriage down.
Those two words are full of power to destroy life
Friday night, a young woman I was acquainted with was shot and killed by the guy she had been dating.
The shock of her death left me reflecting on the conversations we never had. And the ‘if onlys’ came rushing in.
If only I had spoken to her about her salvation. If only I had told her that God created her with a purpose and that He loved her. Certainly, I wouldn’t feel guilty about failing my calling to spread the good news of the gospel.
Faith
Yesterday, I found her middle name, Faith. Oh, a glimmer of hope. Did she have someone who took her to church and spoke to her salvation?
Our times together were few and far between. She was a teenager when we met. Additionally, those times together were loud and noisy celebrations. Also, they mostly centered around UGA football games. Still, if only I had told her she was special.
Now, by all means, I pray for her family and friends to see God’s vision for her death. To grieve her, but not to let the “ if onlys,” eat away at them.
Sure, we all have some regrets, but those two little bad words can ruin your day or wreck your life. As the photo above illustrated, your happiness can be all tangled up in the “if onlys.”
In his book, If Only…: Finding Freedom from Regret, Dr. Robert Leahy asks, do regrets lead you to some action or away from taking any action? He says regret can be immobilizing, filling us with disappointment and shame — but it also can be a powerful tool for self-knowledge and change.
Repent and move forward
That’s what the Holy Spirit has taught me to do.
Without the Holy Spirit, I would be in pieces. You see, He is my comforter and my peace. He brings me joy And guides me. Without Him, I would still be bitter and angry, and I would speak those two little bad words, “if only.”
The Holy Spirit is more than a comforter; He is the voice that helps us reframe our regrets into lessons. When ‘if only’ tempts you, the Spirit reminds you to look forward, not back.
Those two words carry power when we let them come into our thoughts. They eat into the good things we do when we can’t see the forest for the trees. We allow stress to carry us along that destructive path longer than a few minutes.
Finding Peace beyond regret
The next time ‘if only’ tries to steal your joy, remember: through repentance and the Holy Spirit, there’s always peace beyond regret. Don’t let an if only I had told her or him rob you of your peace.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16 KJV)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26 NKJV)
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.(Isaiah 43:18–19 NIV)
In conclusion
These Scriptures speak to God’s desire for us to move forward and trust in His new beginnings. They call us to agree with Him, to know and follow the Holy Spirit, and to be comforted by Him during times of stress living in this fallen world.
