Editorial December 18, 1995 Issue

Not having to live with regret

Russ Gerber

Express regret for having made a mistake, and a friend may remind you that everyone makes mistakes. Everyone does, that's true. But knowing that everyone makes mistakes isn't likely to make much difference to you if you're feeling miserable and ashamed, wishing with all your heart that such a mistake had never happened.

The inner fire of deep regret is a horrible feeling, a hell from which people want desperately to be saved. The good news is, they can be. They can be freed from feelings of guilt and self-condemnation, and be at peace.

The Apostle Paul was familiar with this mentality and made strong statements about it. But he also indicated the state of thought that saves us from suffering and brings life and peace. "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace," Paul said (Rom. 8:6). The first thing one might wonder is "But how can I become spiritually-minded? How do I work my way out of this terrible feeling of regret? After all, I did make a mistake." Maybe so. But even the worst of past mistakes can't prevent us from taking the proper steps right now toward reform and a life and peace of spiritual-mindedness.

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Truth, not time
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