I’ve never told anyone specific things I regret. There are days in the past I really wish I could do again. There are conversations I’ve had with people that I want the ability to change. In the back of my mind, I remember the times where I messed up or said the wrong thing. Living with the consequences and seeing the result of my actions from such a long time ago reminds me of those moments. I don’t talk to people about these things. I talk to God though.

On the night before Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and before the chief priests arrested Jesus, sitting at the table with His disciples for the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said that Peter would deny Him three times. Later that night, after praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was taken by the unbelievers. Peter followed the crowd when they took Jesus but then, people recognized Peter as one of His disciples. Peter denied it, once, twice, and three times. God’s word says, “Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22: 61-62). Just as Jesus foretold, Peter refused to admit that he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Jesus and Peter made eye contact right after the rooster crowed. Jesus knew He would be arrested. He knew He would be crucified. He knew Judas would betray Him and He knew Peter would deny Him. They made eye contact and immediately Peter realized what actually happened. Peter was filled with remorse, he regretted lying and abandoning Jesus in this vulnerable time.

God knows our weaknesses and He understands our sorrow. Jesus felt the ultimate pain when He came to this world and died for our sins. God’s word says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This one line verse gives us the ultimate promise. We only need to pray and confess our mistakes to God. With this, we need to repent and turn from the lifestyle that led to sin. He is faithful and just, He will forgive us. God doesn’t want us to live with regret and sorrow. He wants us to realize our sin and ask for forgiveness.

Paul writes to the church in Philippi, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13). We don’t have to live with little moments in the back of our minds that remind us of things we wish we could change. If God can forgive us for our sins, then we should forget what we did in the past.

When I think of the word

regret, my mind flashes back to this one day in tenth grade. Something I did that day stuck with me ever since and that’s the biggest regret I have. But I don’t feel sad over what happened. I’ve moved on. I asked for forgiveness, I found absolution in Jesus. As a Christian, you don’t have to live with regret. God has a plan for your life and mistakes in the past aren’t included in that plan because Jesus died on the cross for your sin. He's forgiven our sin, so why bring it up again?