What can I learn from my regrets?

2 Kings 22:18-20“Go to the king of Judah who sent you to seek the Lord and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the message you have just heard: You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. So I will not send the promised disaster until after you have died and been buried in peace. You will not see the disaster I am going to bring on this city.’” So they took her message back to the king.

Psalm 51:17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

Proverbs 14:9Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Proverbs 28:14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.

Regrets can lead us to repentance and back into fellowship with God.

Luke 7:47“I [Jesus] tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Ephesians 3:18May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

Regrets can bring us to a deeper understanding of God’s forgiving love if we move toward him and experience his forgiveness.

Jeremiah 31:19“‘I [Israel] turned away from God, but then I was sorry. I kicked myself for my stupidity! I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’”

Regrets can teach us to live obediently and wisely for God.