Letting Go of Past Regrets: 4 Scriptures to Help You Embrace God’s Grace

Life moves fast, and as we age, the speed seems to pick up. This pace can cause us to reflect on the past with regret as we ponder missed opportunities or mistakes. A focus on the past can hinder our ability to enjoy the present and thrive in the future. Instead, we need to embrace God’s grace and forgiveness through the renewing of our minds. God’s word is full of promises of hope and redemption. Only by looking to God’s truth in scripture can we view our past in light of His promises.

1. I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten (Joel 2:25a).

In the book of Joel, God’s people have turned away, and destruction results. However, even in the midst of their mistakes, God offers them redemption, hope, and a positive outcome. He promises restoration. He promises that their rebellious years will not be wasted but redeemed.

My husband likes to remind me that we can’t go back and change the past, but we can change what we are going to do right now and tomorrow. God acknowledged the people’s errors and their consequences, but He also affirmed that the past does not determine their future because He can do anything. Our past does not control God. He is not hindered by the things that we regret. God has a long history of taking people with broken pasts and giving them new lives and hearts.

2. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).

When speaking to the Philippian church about knowing God and the power of His resurrection, Paul admitted that he still wasn’t perfect and made mistakes. He did not let his mistakes hinder Him. Instead, he renewed his mind with thoughts of His ultimate goal. He looked forward, not back. He focused on moving upward, not downward. Making plans, working toward a goal, and training yourself in new habits are productive ways to let go of regret and embrace the truth that every day is a new opportunity to start fresh with the Lord.

3. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil (Proverbs 4:25-27).

In this portion of wisdom literature, we are told where our eyes should look, and it is not behind us. In order to look behind oneself, one must turn their head or even their body, to the right or the left. This is not wisdom. Wisdom requires laser focus in front of us. We are to think about where we are going, not where we have been. Once we have repented of past sins, God wants our gaze to be on Him as He leads us forward in new life. To look behind you on a steep mountain path could be dangerous. You could go in the wrong direction or fall. Embracing the fact that God forgets our sins allows us to stop focusing on the past and shift our eyes to the road ahead of us.

4. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Proverbs 11:28 – 30).

Dwelling on the past is a heavyweight. Focusing on regrets and mistakes is like trying to walk with heavy chains shackled to our feet. We will get nowhere, and we will be less effective at everything we do. Focusing on the past can harm our future. There is a reason why God offers such merciful grace. He knows we need it. He knows that we cannot carry the burden of the past. Therefore, He gives us the gift of becoming brand new and shedding the past. When animals are yoked together, it is for forward movement, work that affects the present and the future. God’s yoke does not include guilt. Chains of guilt hold us back, but His yoke is purposeful and helps to build new things and grow good fruit.

As the years pass, we will undoubtedly make more mistakes. We should learn from these mistakes as we continue to grow in godliness. God’s sovereignty covers what we see as missed opportunities in our lives. When we give the past to Him and trust Him with the future, we can move forward with peace. God’s word is filled with promises of hope for those who struggle with regret. Releasing the past is accepting God’s forgiveness. His grace is so big that it can create beauty from ashes. The entire story of the Bible is about God creating beauty from brokenness. Look to Jesus and keep moving forward.