If Only (I Had)…

“Did you know the number one regret that people have on their death bed is that they wish they'd had the courage to live a life true to themselves, and not what others expected of them?[i]

Many people choose to dwell on their failures. This leads to unnecessary worrying, regret, shame, and stress. Instead of dwelling on the past, you can reflect on your experiences and use negative situations as a learning experience.[ii]

Many times, the decisions we make affect and hurt your closest friends and family the most. I have a lot of regrets in that regard. [iii]

But God has forgiven me, which I am very thankful for. It has enabled me to forgive myself and move forward one day at a time.[iv] I don't have regrets, there are only lessons. You learn from them, and you become a better person.[v] Life is a bundle of possibilities if you just look for them. Life is a meant to do, not to regret.[vi]

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.[vii] You don’t stop laughing because you grow older. You grow older because you stop laughing.”[viii]

As wonderful as all the above quotes are, the musical group, MercyMe, in their song, “Dear Younger Me” provides us all with a fun fantasy wish solution in dealing with any regrets we all have. Wouldn’t be fantastic if this method of regret resolution existed? What do the lyrics below make you want to permanently change?

Dear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger me

If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heard

Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed [x3]

Since no one on Earth has made time travel a reality yet, Philippians 3:12-14 (ERV) provides us with a solid (sometimes difficult) method of dealing with regret the Almighty’s proven way:

^“I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go.

But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.”

Have you ever been so upset with the bad decisions you’ve made in your life that once again become your own worst enemy? Does some part of you relate Psalm 6:6-7 (ICB) internally or externally? (God does hear your pain. He will respond.)

“I am tired of crying to you.  Every night my bed is wet with tears. My bed is soaked from my crying. My eyes are weak from so much crying.  They are weak from crying about my enemies.”

There is good news. “The cross is bigger than your mistakes, bigger than your regrets, bigger than the secrets you hold. The cross stands above it all.[ix]

I discovered that what God truly desires is intimacy - an intimate relationship, a friendship, a bond. I discovered that adhering to man-made rules and rituals did not impress Him - all He wanted was my heart.[x]

I know that serving others has been a source of inspiration, a source of strength, a reinforcement of faith, and an illustration of my life’s purpose."[xi]

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[i] Quote by Rachel Rofe

 

[ii] Quote by Morris Pratt

 

[iii] The phrase “if only” refers to wishing a situation could have a different (better) outcome.

 

[iv] Quote by Lex Luger

 

[v] Quote by Nicole Polizzi

[vi] Quote by Catherine Pulsifer

 

[vii] Quote by actress  Sophia Loren

 

[viii] Quote by Maurice Chevalier

 

[ix] Quote by Nickey Gumbel

 

[x] Quote by Taneki Dacres

 

[xi] Quote by Dr. Rachel Talton