Stop Carrying Regret Like a Ball and Chain
Either we run free to God with open arms, dropping any baggage from the past. Or, we drag along regret like a ball and chain.
Regret. Such a small word that packs a big punch. Often, it’s a supersized punch straight to the gut. And it leaves us gasping for air and reeling in pain deep in our soul.
Why? Because we feel like we are carrying the weight of a ball and chain.
Regret is displayed in these ways: sorrow/sadness, repentance, disappointment or remorse for a missed opportunity. (Google)
In order to unpack some of these specifics about regret, let’s look at examples and Scriptures.
Regret in Sorrow Like a Ball and Chain
We regret in sorrow or sadness. Perhpas a close relationship ended and we regret why it happened.
Or, a loved one dies when our relationship’s still strained or severed. This regret is sometimes unbearable. I’ve seen this fleshed out at funerals: sons and daughters or fathers and mothers or brothers and sisters skip the services because of a hurt or grievance.
Also, regret over a broken relationship that robs us of precious time with someone we love. Years go by and we lose time that we never recover. How sad when this hits close to home. God never intended this kind of sorrow for unreconcilation.
Let’s pray to stay humble and attempt to live at peace in all relationships. Then, regret is not our companion now or when it’s too late.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 (NIV)
Repentance and Regret
Mistakes and sin keep us chained to regret.
A godly repentance not only brings us to salvation in Christ, but also helps us let go of regret when we ask forgiveness from God for any sins we commit against Him. And we ask people to forgive us when we sin and make missteps against them. Then, those chains no longer hold us captive.
“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
Mistakes and sin keep us chained to regret. But a godly #repentance helps us let go and ask #forgiveness from God and others. Then, those chains no longer hold us captive. Click To TweetRegret in Disappointment Like a Ball and Chain
Perhaps hardships brought disappointment into our life too many times to even count.
Yet, disappointments never have to affect the trajectory of our lives. God not only replaces disappointments we grieve with His good and perfect will, but He also redeems everything they cost us.
And the Lord guides us to the other side of disappointment where He waits to gift us with His treasures.
Stop carrying regret over disappointment, God is doing something new.
“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King…. Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:15, 18-19 (ESV)
Regret in Missed Opportunities Like a Ball and Chain
We missed it. We missed our chance.
Sometimes our remorse and regret stems from missed opportunities. Those occasions and moments in life that disappeared because of avoidance or no follow through. Like pursuing a dream, meeting a goal, searching for a long, lost family member, and so on.
While those opportunities are rare to present themselves to us again, we choose not to let this regret stay on repeat.
“…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Listen, my brothers and sisters in Christ, either we drag along regret like a ball and chain or we run free to the God of new beginnings.
Either we drag along regret like a ball and chain or we run free to the God of new beginnings. Click To TweetWhile regret comes in different shapes and sizes: sorrow, sadness, repentance, disappointment, missed opportunity or other, we get to choose whether or not we carry the unnecessary weight.
I’m running to God free with open arms. I hope you join me.
Which of the above regrets are you carrying like a ball and chain?
Last week’s article, God is Still Good Even When Life is Not.
Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Tell His Story/Recharge Wednesday/Let’s Have Coffee/Tune in Thursday/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).
© 2023 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
This article is so essential. It’s easy to drag around regret. Whereas, disciplining ourselves to keep our eyes on the Lord and to walk in His footsteps is far more productive. Some things simply can’t be fixed, but going directly to the Lord about the life issue that is weighing us down can often result in peace and joy as we see the Lord work all things together for our good.
Well said, Melissa. I pray to keep my eyes on Him and His holiness and goodness. “…one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
We have nowhere place to go. God is the only way up to hope. Great post, Karen. God bless!
Hope has a name. It’s Jesus. What a great hope-to live without regret weighing us down.
So much to love about your post today Ms. Karen. I must sound like a broken record my friend. 🙂 As I was reading your post, I saw myself (at times) in each one of these scenarios. Then, God reminded me of the difference between lament and regret. Oh, what a joyous lesson that was some years ago when the Holy Spirit helped me to understand that difference. In my simple mind, the word lament is past tense, and the past can’t hurt us. If you will, I can lament the years I lost to sin (I can remember them with redregging up the regret I felt before His forgiveness), but I regret a recent sin that’s been brought to my awareness that I’ve not yet confessed. It is regret that leads me to confession. Once confessed and forgiven, I might lament it later on, but what has been forgiven can no longer be held or used against me. Lament means that I once felt sorry about something, regret means that I am feeling sorry about something. Hope that makes sense ma’am. Satan continues to try and use my past against me through the emotion of regret, but I remind him where to get off because I’ve been forgiven. God’s blessings my friend.
That’s a good word for us all, J.D. Many of the psalmists and Jeremiah and others lamented in the Scriptures. Satan can only use our past against us if we let him have that much power over us. But forgiven people live forgiven. Or at least we should. We’re forgiven and free! “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
Regret is a harsh task-master, Karen, I agree. But we need to remember that God can, and will, remove that ball and chain that weighs us down. May we lay down our burdens at the feet of Jesus.
Blessings!
Martha, oh how I desire to lay these regrets at Jesus’ feet and never pick them back up again. God bless.
I regret mistakes of the past, yet I pray those mistakes will be opportunities to lean closer to God.
I like how you expressed your comment, Melissa. Thanks for sharing. May we lean in closer to God. We choose not to let regret stay on repeat.
Excellent. We need to let go of the chains that hold us down. YES, we did wrong in the past. And yes, sometimes we remember… but we have freedom and release from those chains in Jesus, who washed us clean.
Amen, Jessica. So thankful for the blood that washed us white as snow! Hallelujah!
I so needed this, thank you! I’ve been dragging around (or rather been dragged around by) a divorce as a Christian and missed career opportunities. This is not how Jesus intended for me to live. Thank you again!
Thanks for sharing so vulnerably and honest, Susan. None of us want to be dragged around by anything. I pray the Lord helps you release this burden to Him and run free to His open hearts.
Karen, I so appreciated this post. Regret can be a burden we carry around with us for a long time. The Lord calls us to come to Him and lay it down. Forgiven and freed, we can move past the regrets that long to hold us back.
Hey Joanne, glad this encouraged you. While regret can wreak havoc on our hearts and lives, we get to choose whether or not we carry the unnecessary weight. God bless.
Karen, I felt like you were talking directly to me today. Praise be to God I no longer live crippled by regret. This is a wonderful message.
Visiting today from G&T
Paula, I like how you expressed it like this, “I no longer live crippled by regret.” The word “crippled” describes perfectly just how burdensome regret can be and the toil it takes on our lives. Thanks for your comment.
I regret some of the things from my past and sometimes I struggle to forgive myself and forget those things. But through Christ, I am learning. Thanks Karen
Forgiving ourselves is sometimes the hardest part, Yvonne. Many of us struggle with that too. I pray we run to the God of new beginnings.
There was a time that regret really nagged my heels constantly. God has helped me move forward in His forgiveness and this thought: if I’d not made the mistakes I made, I would have made others. Sometimes, though, regrets revisit me after the sun goes down and I’m getting ready for bed. Thank you for this reminder, Karen.
Ashley, I think most of us relate to your words and experience. We’re going to make mistakes as humans, that’s a given. But so thankful the Lord wants us to run freely to Him and drop all our baggage of mistakes and regrets along the way. And never turn around to pick them back up. Appreciate you commenting.
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