The world is full of people who live their lives wondering what might have been, what could have been, or what should have been had they only made different choices all those years ago. 

Too often when a person is young, they lack the wisdom to make the hard choices that can benefit their future. Many times the young make choices based on the feelings of the moment, or are forced into choices because of peer pressure or parents. Little do they know that decades later they will relive those moments of choice and wonder what could have been, what would have been, what should have been.

The Word of God tells us that we are not to look back, but to stay focused on what lies ahead. Athletes are trained to not look back, but to keep their eyes on the finish line. Why? Because looking back will slow you down and cause you to focus on where you’ve been instead of where you are going.

Sometimes the past actually does contain unresolved issues. The knowledge of broken lives and broken hearts, as a result of your bad decisions, can sometimes become overwhelming and the temptation to go back in time can be very strong. But almost always it results in even more broken hearts and the pain is multiplied.

So the answer is actually quite simple. We must somehow resolve the regret and get rid of the guilt. But you can’t do this on your own. You need a strength beyond what is natural and that strength only comes from the power contained in the grace of God.

First, you must make the hard decision to not go back. You must recognize that things wouldn’t be the same because the years have changed circumstances and the people involved. Secondly, you must come to the realization that you are not a teenager anymore, and make-up or motorcycles will not change that.             

Now don’t take me wrong. I am not saying that you can’t have old friends and that you can’t resolve old issues. You can. But resolution involves love and forgiveness. Regret involves guilt and pain.

God’s plan is simple. Forgive yourself, walk in love, and press forward for the good things that God has ahead for you.

Some people have lived with regret for so many years that it has become a part of them. Their personalities have developed and been shaped by the haunting memories of the past. But, as you look forward toward the freshness that God has for you and you understand the concept that God saves the best for last, then peace will come into your life and regret will be gone – at last.

“I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)