Feeling regret for past decisions or actions is part of the human experience. There is not one person in the world that has not felt or will not feel the pain of regret at some point in their life. It is very human for us to make mistakes as a result of our fallen nature.

As God’s children, though, regretting the mistakes of the past is not enough. God is merciful and He wants to save us but we need to repent and allow Him to change our lives so we can become more like Him. 

When we receive Jesus in our lives, we are transformed and ‘the old passes away and ALL things become new’. That means the life you used to live has passed away the moment you accepted Jesus. However, sometimes feelings of regret will still plague you and hold you hostage in the past and prevent you from living your life to its full potential.

God Understands Regret:

Even God had regrets. He regretted that He made man, not because of what He intended for them, but because they abused and neglected their relationship with Him and grieved Him through their actions.

“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. 1 Samuel 15:11 NKJV

“When the LORD saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved. Then the LORD said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky ​— ​for I regret that I made them.” Genesis 6:5-7 CSB

If God had regrets then He knows and understands the pain that accompanies those feelings. He has compassion when you share your regrets with Him. Just like Him, you do not have to stay in that place of regret, but with His grace and mercy you can move beyond it and live your life in a way that honours Him. 

Another example of someone who had regrets:

King David’s sin of murdering Uriah, the husband of the woman he commited adultery with made him regret that his actions were against God.  “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13)    

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. … “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51

Jeremiah regretted turning away from God.

“After my return, I felt regret; After I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.” Jeremiah 31:19 CSB

5 Ways you can overcome and transcend the burden of past regret?

1. Repentance for sin and walking with God go hand in hand. 

David repented before God in a spirit of humility and genuine remorse for grieving God with his actions. He submitted himself completely to the mercy and grace of God and through faith received forgiveness. 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1John 1:9

2. Silence the accuser

When feelings of regret over past mistakes keep plaguing you then you can be sure the enemy of your soul is intent on stealing the peace you have received from God. Satan, which means ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary’ in Hebrew, your fiercest enemy, will stop at nothing to trip you up in your daily walk with God. He will remind you of past sins in an attempt to frustrate your life in Christ. 

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Revelation 12:10

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross secured your redemption and as a result the accuser has been cast down and no longer has power over you when you stay in Christ. 

“…they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. Rev 12: 10

3. Remember there is no condemnation when we are in Christ

When we have repented of our sins and have received God’s forgiveness by faith, we have the assurance that we are in right standing with God. 

But if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 1John 1:7 AMP

4. Forget the past

True faith is knowing that when God washed away your sins through the blood of Jesus, you are free from your past. When you hold on to regret, you’re actually holding on to the very things that used to separate you from God. God has forgotten your past and so should you. 

 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43: 25

5. Thank and worship God

When feelings of regret come to steal your joy, see it as an opportunity to thank and worship God for sending His son Jesus to redeem you from  ALL sin. Through His sacrifice you are made completely whole and blameless before God.

Here is a simple prayer for when you are tempted to fall into regretful feelings again.