Recently I’ve been beating myself up over a question that parades through my mind regularly.

“How did you let that happen?”

I think back on my life past, and I ask myself this question about many situations. I go down the mental path of different scenarios of what I could have done – but I didn’t.

Sometimes my regret gets out of control. I just dwell on the past so much that it becomes an obsession.

God has revealed to me that replaying what I could have done differently in my past is actually a form of pride. It shows that I think I’m in complete control of my life, I’m the only one calling the shots. It leaves out God’s sovereignty.

I am completely responsible for the sin in my past. However, God has shown me how He uses that sin.

You see, God knows all of my weaknesses. He knows all of my idiosyncrasies, the deep places in my soul that I don’t see. He knows how I’m broken. And yet, He still chooses to use my sin. He still chooses to use me.

God saw the weaknesses in my soul and instead of taking them away, which He could have, He said, “No, I’m going to leave them there.” He knew they, being in themselves my sin nature, would cause me to sin. He knew they would cause consequences and heartbreak. But He left them there anyway.

God left my weaknesses in order to show me His glory through them. His sovereignty. His control. His power. And He left them so that God’s sovereignty in my life could be a witness to others.

A Lot of Prayer

If you are in a pattern of regret, remember that God’s grace is sufficient for all of your past mistakes. It’s in them that His power is made perfect. Ask Him to show you how you can use your past sins to bring Him glory and point others to Him.

And a Little Encouragement

If you haven’t heard, a movie to go along with the book Fifty Shades of Grey is hitting theaters on February 14th. For now until then, a team of women are getting the word out about the book women should be reading called Pulling Back the Shades.

I have written several blog posts about Fifty Shades of Grey, including a review of the book Pulling Back the Shades, and you can find them all here.

But I want to emphasize two points here. One, we are made to be both sexual and spiritual. This is what Pulling Back the Shades is about.

The other is that it is important that you are armed with TRUTH when you hear of your friends or other women in your life going to see the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey, or reading the book. We have an awesome opportunity to be bold for truth. Let’s not let it pass.

Check out all the details and get images to share on the new website PullingBacktheShades.com.

Here are some other must reads:

Lacrae Confesses Abortion, Invites Others Into the Light from DesiringGod.org

Why Doesn’t He Answer? by Lore Ferguson

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