A Prayer to Find Freedom from Regret

A Prayer to Find Freedom from Regret
By Lynette Kittle

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” - 2 Corinthians 7:10

How many of us deal with heartbreaking regret over things from the past, decisions, and situations we can’t change?

Regret relentlessly taunts us, telling us that if we had done this or hadn’t done that, we would have had a different, better outcome. But regret is not our friend. It lies to us, telling us what we should have done differently but giving us no hope or possibility of changing or correcting what happened in the past. Instead of comforting, it challenges what God assures us in Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

God comforts us in His Word, promising us He will work everything in our lives together for our good, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. Because He gives us His word on this, regret is often rooted in unbelief, revealing a lack of trust in God to do what He says He will do with all the events and experiences in our lives.

Sadly, it’s easier for many to believe regret’s accusations over God’s word. This leads some to give in to the “what ifs” in regret’s relentless banter, believing its lies about the past rather than His promises concerning the future. Many believe the enemy of our souls lies in that they messed up and missed out rather than God working it out in their lives for good. 1 Peter 5:8 explains where these accusations and fears originate: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

How to Rid Ourselves of Regret

Because regret is a tool of the enemy set on robbing us of joy and keeping us in sorrow and fear, how do we rid ourselves of it? God invites us to let go of all our regrets and give them to Him to carry, offering us relief from the burden and weight of their guilt and torment and letting Him bear them for us. Psalm 55:22 describes how we can:

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Casting our cares involves giving up regret by daily choosing to believe God’s word over guilty feelings and accusations. It includes confessing unbelief in God’s ability to work it for our good and asking Him to help us with our unbelief, to believe His truth over the devil’s accusations (Mark 9:24). 1 John 1:9 urges,

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Even when it seems impossible, God is at work, causing all of life’s events to work together for our good, including the ones we feel regretful about. Because He is, we can choose to trust Him, believing what Jesus said in Mark 9:23: Everything is possible for one who believes.

Regret Replaced with Peace

When we let go of regret, Jesus gives us His peace.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

Because He understands the difficulties we encounter while living on earth, Jesus assures us,

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Let’s pray:
Dear Father,
Today we receive the comfort of Your Word, casting our cares on You, asking You to free us from regret and to help us believe that You are working all things together for good in our lives. Lord, we lay regret, worry, sorrow, and guilt at Your feet, knowing we can’t carry them, but You can. Our hearts are grateful that You understand our weaknesses yet do not hold them against us. Fill us with Your peace and help us to move forward in life, confident that we can trust You with every experience and situation we face.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.

Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.

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