Managing the Emotion of regret

Regret can be a powerful, almost consuming emotion.  Regret can be wishing you had done something you didn’t do or wishing you had not done something you did do. Regret can also be wishing something had happened when it did not or wishing something had not happened that did happen.

The Christian life is a growing process, not to be evaluated by physical age or length of time you have been a Christian. Through that growing process, Jesus Christ is actively working to make you more like Himself. So wisdom regarding how to handle yourself, your behavior and your reaction to circumstances you cannot control will increase with the more time you share with Jesus Christ.

Remember you are not alone! –

Hebrews 13:⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

You do not have to explain anything to Jesus. You do not have to bring Him up to speed on anything. He already knows all about the thing you regret and He even understands your regret.

You are His creation. He knows you well. He loves you unconditionally with an everlasting love. Notice His promises to never leave you and to never forsake you.

What do those promises mean to you right now?

Remember Jesus Christ is still working on you! –

Philippians 1:⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Remember Jesus Christ gives mercy and instruction-

Psalm 32: ⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.¹⁰ Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

What instruction do you sense Him giving you about your regret?

What instruction from Him do you desire?

What does His mercy mean to you?

Remember Jesus Christ is able to work good for you, to you and into the situation –

Romans 8:²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. ³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? ³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.

Remember Peter’s regret?

Matthew 26:⁶⁹Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. ⁷⁰But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.⁷¹And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. ⁷²And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. ⁷³And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. ⁷⁴Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.⁷⁵And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

How did Jesus Christ respond to Peter’s denials? –

1 Corinthians 15:³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

What do these verses tell you about how Jesus Christ responded to Peter’s regret?

Should you expect anything less from Him for you?

Paul’s solution for regret –

Philippians 3:¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

What does Paul’s example mean to you?

He Who Began a Good Work In You by Jon Mohr

He who began a good work in you – He who began a good work in you

Will be faithful to complete it -He’ll be faithful to complete it

He who started a work will be faithful to complete it in you

If the struggle you’re facing is slowly replacing your hope with despair

Or the process is long and you’re losing your song In the night

You can be sure that the Lord has His hand on you

Safe and secure He will never abandon you

You are His treasure and He finds His pleasure in you

He who began a good work in you -He who began a good work in you

Will be faithful to complete it – He’ll be faithful to complete it

He who started the work Will be faithful to complete it in you good

Our focus – Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good  plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti