Overcoming regret can set us free and put us on a new path in life. In your life, you may have made poor choices that resulted in broken relationships or doing something that had significant consequences. If we are honest, we sin daily. There are things in everyone’s life that we could have done better or handled differently.
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul persecuted believers before he followed Jesus. Paul referred to himself as the least of the Apostles because of his actions. Paul was a great missionary but also a person of regret in need of forgiveness.
Joseph’s Brothers Suffered Regret
Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery to traders going to Egypt. At the moment, our sinful behavior seems okay because we deceive ourselves. As time goes by and the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin, we wonder why we did what we did. Joseph’s brothers thought removing Joseph would remove their troubles. The enemy always whispers lies into our ears to deceive us into sin. The brothers soon found out their problems did not go away. Joseph was gone, but not his memory.
Genesis 37: 31 Then, the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. 32 They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” 33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep. [1]
Jesus Died for Your Regrets
We all have regrets in our life, but we must remember we have a merciful Savior who died for all our sins. The thief on the cross who repented had lived a life of crime that ended on the cross. He lived a life filled with regret, yet he came to faith in Jesus as His Savior in his dying hours.
Luke 23:42 Then he (the thief) said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” [2]
Just before he died, he realized that everything he had done in life had been regrettable. None of what he did in life resulted from faith up until this time on the cross. Yet, Jesus welcomed him into His Kingdom. Psalm 130:3 Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? 4 But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. [3]
To hear more about overcoming regret, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/joseph-sold
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.