Philippians 3:13b-14: “but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Here’s a riddle for you:

We create them, yet we despise them. As soon as they appear, we cannot wait to be rid of them. What are they?

The answer? Regrets!

Have you ever pondered regret? Tracing it back to its conception, regrets were born on the sixth day of creation as God fashioned humans with  freedom of choice. God created us but we created regret.

Regrets are plentiful, coming in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Relatively few days are void of regrets, but gratefully most are insignificant in the scope of life. Perhaps we begrudge eating that extra helping of dessert as we attempt to zip our jeans. Or maybe we choose to delay laundry and it turns into a deplorable mountain of smelly socks.

However, other regrets are not so easily overcome and produce great difficulties. Words spoken in haste can cause immediate anguish, holding the power to fracture solid friendships. Actions motivated by jealousy and pride bring remorse as they backfire and hurt those we love most. And idle gossip is powerful enough to crush spirits and create great divides.

Since regret is so very problematic, why is it we, humans, create so much of it? Because regret is a tricky little thing, clearly visible only when looking behind. By the time our past actions come into clear focus, it is too late to avoid them. Those deeds, good or bad, have already etched a place into our story.

Friends let’s stop here to praise the Holy Spirit for including Paul’s story in scripture, for if anyone modeled a life lived beyond regrets, it was Paul. His past was filled with all things regrettable. But once a Christian, Paul realized his past lay in direct opposition to his future in Christ. So Paul’s focus changed and he forged ahead in his new life.

Although Paul wrote of forgetting his past, we know from scripture he never disregarded his former life. He referenced it as he spoke and wrote his epistles of encouragement. But Paul chose not to live in accordance with his memories. Instead, he used his past to fuel his future kingdom work.

At some point, our actions will guarantee us regret, requiring we bring it before the Father and make amends with those we have hurt. Then we may store our regret in the past where it belongs, using it only as fuel to live out the beautiful, productive life God calls us to live.  Remember friend, our prize lies not behind. It lies ahead in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Father God, help us to use our past failures to insure our future with You.

Blessings,

Rita Cochrane