Whenever we make any type of choice in our lives, we run the risk of regretting it.  It’s part of not knowing our future.  Sometimes we make great decisions and sometimes our choices stink and we pay a price.  Or even worse, sometimes we make no decision and all.  Regret can come from how we view the results of our choices, even ones that impact our faith.  So how can we avoid regret in our lives?


Pray, Pray, Pray
“Dear, God.  What should I do about…” is a question we should all have in our prayer lives.  God always gives us a choice.  We can follow His path, or we can, well, not follow His path.  Unfortunately, we don’t always see his path clearly.  One way we can see the better choice is to spend some time with Him in prayer.  Ask Him what choice is best.  Ask God to light your path.  Sometimes we’ll get clarity out of a prayer, and sometimes we’ll need to pray for a while, because God is asking us to be patient with our choices.  Allow Him to work in you, because regret often comes from not talking to God first.

Trust Your Gut
Sometimes a choice is obvious, but other times it may not be so. God uses things in our lives to tell us when we’re making a bad choice.  There may be that nagging feeling that we’re missing something.  We may go to make a choice and something just tickles our gut making us wonder if we’re making the right choice.  Trust that gut.  It may mean God is asking you to step back so you don’t regret your decision.

Think Before You Act
Weigh things out if you can.  When we have multiple choices in front of us, it’s important to look at all aspects of them. Sometimes we can avoid a lot of regret by looking at each choice and weighing the pros and cons, especially important decisions like where to go to college or what classes to take next semester.  What friends we have or whether or not to confront a bully are decision that may take a little thinking before acting.

Take Risks
But don’t always take too long to make a decision.  Some people live with regret over decisions not made.  They miss out on situation, because they spend too much time contemplating.  Sometimes God means for you to move fast.  Yes, it’s hard to always know the difference, but consider taking a risk once in a while.  Sometimes not doing something, not getting out of your comfort zone means more regret that keeping yourself comfortable.

Talk to Someone
If you’re facing a very difficult choice, try talking to someone you trust.  A friend, a pastor, youth leader, teacher, parent…all these people are there to help you make good choices.  Their insight can be priceless.  Keeping everything inside can also cause regret.  Tell them what you’re facing.  Tell people you love them.  Talk to people.

Get Morbid
Ask yourself how you’d feel on your deathbed if you did or didn’t do this thing.  Many times we don’t have regrets until years later, so thinking ahead to how you’d feel if you were dying and did or didn’t do something can help us make choices we won’t regret.  Yes, it’s kind of morbid.  You can also think about how God would view your choice when you stand before Him after you die.  Okay, also a bit morbid, but reflecting through God’s eyes is a great way to look at the choices before you.

Accept There May Only Be Bad Choices
Sometimes we have nothing but bad choices in front of us. This is where weighing your options is important.  Calling your parents to tell them you’re going to get home after curfew and listening to them yell then or just showing up late after they’ve worried for hours and facing far worse punishment?  Sometimes we don’t have all the best options, but remember, God can use any situation.  Maybe it’s a path to something else.  We don’t always know, but in these situations we’ll want to choose the path of least regret.