Articles
Regrets
Regrets can range from the small and insignificant to the huge and monumental. We may
regret having that piece of cake after supper or we may regret committing murder. We all have
had regrets in our lives.
David is an example of regrets. He was chosen by God to be king over Israel. God sought
David specifically (Acts 13:22). Yet David made major mistakes as king. Mistakes that
displeased God and caused David great regret. Through his actions, David committed adultery
with a faithful servant’s wife and signed Uriah’s death sentence to hide his own guilt. He broke
God’s commandments and ultimately brought about the death of his own son (2 Samuel 12:9-
18). David had good reasons to feel regret. He could have al- lowed the effects of his bad
decisions to separate him from God —but he did not.
What did David do when he had that “I can’t believe I did that” moment? David humbled
himself before God. The prayer of David in Psalm 51 shows us three primary steps to
overcoming regrets.
Acknowledgment: David confessed he had sinned against God. He also admitted that God
was a just and blameless judge (Psalm 51:3-4).
Repentance: David began his prayer by asking for mercy—for forgiveness. David realized
he couldn’t recover and move forward without God’s help. He needed God to cleanse him from
his sin (Psalm 51:1-2). When we make mistakes that cause offense we too need to ask for God’s
forgiveness and the forgiveness of those affected (1 John 1:9).
Commitment: David asked God to deliver him from his guilt and restore his joy. He would
praise God’s righteousness and teach others the importance of following God’s commands
(Psalm 51:12-15).
~ Brad Tolbert
