My church is engaged in a 21 days of prayer event. Everyone who wanted to participate was given a journal with a Scripture verse and suggested prayer for each day. Today's prayer was to "Put your situation in God's hands and ask for mercy."
I have many regrets about how much of my current situation is due to the poor choices I've made. I'm also remorseful for how I've squandered time, wasted opportunities, mismanaged finances, and neglected my body. Regrets, however, are futile. No one of us can go back and change the past.
Life may not have turned out the way I wish it had, and there are consequences for my actions, but I believe God can redeem the mess I've made and still use me to be a testimony to His grace so others can see the transformation and be drawn to Him.
Perhaps I'm exactly what and where I need to be for this particular moment in God's plan. Maybe instead of mourning the loss of what might have been, I should be rejoicing that I have been given the gift of what might not have been.
Had I pursued my talents and education to their fullest, and been the best mother/wife/daughter/ friend possible, would I ever have felt a need for the Lord or for His saving grace? Would I perhaps have spent my life chasing after the things this world has to offer, instead of the things that have eternal value? Would I have missed God's gift of salvation, a greater tragedy by far?
Unlike the world, God does not measure success in numbers. If I reach that one person He intended for me to reach, allow Him to use me to bring hope to that one discouraged heart, or lead that one soul out of the darkness and to the foot of the Cross, then my purpose will have been accomplished, and my life not lived in vain. It's all a matter of perspective.
Beautiful Sandy!!! I love this, it is so true. Step out of regret and remorse! He has redeemed you with His Blood! You are a beautiful vessel of His loving kindness and a powerful writer and prayer warrior! ❤
ReplyDeleteAnd you have a great perspective! No one knows what might have happened if we had taken another road, but we can only look ahead. We get a new chance each morning!
ReplyDeleteHe can take a losing hand and make it win. That's not to say you have a losing hand! I stole the line from a song by Sheryl Crow and I think it can mean a lot of things. You do have a lot of wonderful things in your life: grandkids, great-grandkids, a Rescuer. What do you think your life would be like if you had done everything right?
ReplyDeleteI never thought of it that way before...had I been the very best I would not have needed the Lord. I love that.
ReplyDeleteI have thought the same so many times about regrets, or what ifs, but your last paragraph puts it all into perspective, If just one life is changed because of something I did or said, then it will be worth it!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Thank you for visiting and for your sweet comment.
Blessings,
Sue
That you have the courage to share that struggle with regrets about what you have NOT done with perfection is encouraging to one who struggled with that. Accepting Christ as Savour at age 8, I remained a baby believer for many years. In 2011 I had a hemorrhagic stroke and am blessed to be alive. His peace and assurance that I experienced in the following months was one many blessings He showered on me. Now I am thankful for what I can do, and leave my "can't do" and "don't do well" stuff up to Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and commenting. Fellow bloggers have made such a difference in my post-stroke journey.