Wouldn't it be great if you could go back to the times in your life when you made bad decisions, and do it over? How much different would your life be, if you decided not to go out with those friends that night? If you decided to not date that person? If you said, "no", when that person asked you to do that thing? All of us can think of choices we made that we really regret. Presently, we may still be feeling the effects of those unwise actions. God does not give us the opportunity to go back in time, and change our past choices, or even the harmful choices that others made which hurt us so much. No, He actually offers us something even better. Instead of US going back and fixing things, HE wants to fix them.

God has power and wisdom that we don't possess. He can cause all things to work together for good... (Romans 8:28). Not only can God face your past without flinching, but He can also take all the events of your past and make them result in something very good. God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think... (Ephesians 3:20).

When Jesus willingly went to the cross, He went there to pay the price for every sin that you are ever going to commit. God is not going to hold your sins against you, if you have accepted Jesus' sacrifice of Himself on your behalf. He poured out all His anger for your sins on Jesus. When you by faith accept Jesus' gift of salvation, you can be free from the guilt for past sin and domination by sin in the future. When He rose from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion, He proved that forgiveness for sins and a great life in the future (both on earth and in heaven) are truly possible for you. This is not just a nice thought. It is reality. Jesus can save you from your sin. He can conquer the anger in you and the lust in you. He can overcome the consequences of your past failures, or the failures of others, and give you a life of tremendous purpose, fulfillment, and blessing, far greater than what your life would turn out like if you were in charge. The rest of your life does not have to be determined by your past, but by a living Savior. Your failures have not changed His love for you or His desires for you one bit.

Now, you have a choice. You can wallow in guilt, remorse, and regret the rest of your life, or you can go right to Jesus and lay out the whole mess before Him. Confess your sin and receive the forgiveness He personally died to make eternally available to you. Then, start fresh! Live in the freedom of His forgiveness and strength and anticipate His loving plans for your future. The day will come when you will look back at your life and clearly see how God ruled the good and overruled the evil.

God says to His people, Then I will make up to you for the years... You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you (Joel 2:25-26).