Regret , That Monster in the Closet

Who can really say that they have lived a life without regret. If there is anyone who can honestly say that , then they are either in denial, delusional or they happen to be the most perfect person in the world. Since there are no perfect people, well you figure it out.


I confess that I live with many regrets . Some more than others and looking back I realize that in many ways , there was only one real moment in time that I would change or alter. Of course if I was in a sci-fi show , I would simply jump into a time machine or twist the fabric of space and time , relay the information and alter the reality. But that is not a possibility .

Since that is never going to happen and one has to learn to deal with ones sins and mistakes.Trying to comprehend them within the context of God's sovereign control over the universe and even your sins and failures, knowing that within your decisions , for good or bad , God still guides in His providence.

Take the fall of David , a man after God's own heart. The greatest King Israel ever saw. In his sin against God , when he seduced or forced Bathsheba and then had her husband killed . He lived in torment of his sin . Until confronted by the prophet Nathan . From this fall , we were in turned blessed with Psalm 51(My favorite Psalm). God forgave David because he repented , cleansed him from sin . But the fall out of his sin , his failure cast a shadow over the rest of his reign. I can only guess but I can see David at times ,looking back and thinking, why or if only? But then running again to God again , being thankful for blessing him with Solomon . For even amid the ruin , God used it for His glory.

It is true he forgave David , but often I wonder if the scar of what he did ever fully healed till he went to be with God .

We have to find a way to live with regret. Trusting that the Lord has forgiven any of our transgressions . But I often think the full healing of the scars will on;y come when we are in the arms of Christ.

In the Lord of the Rings , Frodo who endured so much , at the end of the story his pains and hurts run too deep for even the restored Shire and destruction of Sauron to allow him to fully heal. He is given passage on the ships heading to the Grey heavens , to the white shores. In the movie they do this so well . As he says his tearful goodbyes to his fellow hobbit Pippin,Merry and Sam , he looks weary and tired . But after Gandalf guides on the ship heading to the white shores , his appearance returns to the Frodo we first saw, full of life and joy. His pain and burdens are gone, he is at peace.


Perhaps I'm wrong but this is how I feel. I trust I have been forgiven , that Christ has forgiven me and my sins are remembered no more but we live in the here and not yet. Scars still remain , reconciliation sometimes does not come , pain and disappointments still linger. As Romans says , the whole creation is groaning till Christ comes again. Then we are promised that are tears and pains will we wiped away ,Rev 21:4. Till then , perhaps its my Irish blood , but its hard not to at times be in tears and struggles. At those times we need to run to Jesus . Not to the world , for I guarantee you , that will not satisfy . Did it,done it and paid the price for it .