How should I handle my regrets?

You Asked For It Series

HOW SHOULD I HANDLE MY REGRETS IN LIFE?

(MULTILINE REVEAL SMALL)

A. Three Major Sources of Regret

1. moments in life: things that we did that we knew were wrong.

2. moments in life: things that we did that harmed others.

3. moments in life: innocent events, in a , that led to harmful results.

B. A Biblical Response to Regret

A key ingredient to the answer to today’s question is found in back-to-back events, tucked away in the later chapters of the Gospel of Matthew as Matthew details two back-to-back descriptions about two back-to-back failures in the lives of two key followers of Jesus. (See Matthew 26:69 — 27:5)

“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it — I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while — yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)

1. the difference between sorrow and sorrow.

a. Worldly sorrow our failure, fuels our , and keeps us stuck in .

b. Godly sorrow our failure, turns to , receives , and .

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12)

“One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14)

A Possible Prayer…

“Lord, I bring my guilt and my regret before you right now. I am sorry for what I did (name what you did.) Lord, I repent of my role. I thank you that you have forgiven me and have removed my sin from me. Please help me to do what I should to make things right, and to move forward in Jesus’ name.”