Paul Tripp begins the fourth chapter of Lost In The Middle with poignant poetry. The simple truth that Dr. Tripp is getting at: “Midlife is a time of harvest… There may be no more common human experience than regret… This is our world, a place where regret lives.”

I don’t have to be in midlife (still several weeks shy of 29!) to know that regret is alive and well in our world. We live in a fallen world, and we are each are sinners, so all of us have a past tainted by the memory of our own sins and the sins done against us. Do you experience regret? It probably lurks around the fringe of your consiousness, slipping through the shadows of thought, waiting to whisper reminders of remorse. Maybe it’s failure in marriage, impatience in parenting, moral compromise, or persistent unbelief. It could have happened decades ago, or this morning. We each carry regret around with us, wishing we could do it differently; I think this chapter is particularly relevant for parents.

This is why Tripp comforts his readers with these words:

“In the face of crushing regret, we are not without hope. Regret is a longing that points us to our need. Beneath each moment of regret is a cry for a better place… Embedded in each mundane flash of regret and every huge load of remorse is a deep and abiding longing for a better place, a place where failure gives way to victory and sin gives way to righteousness.”

The most helpful part of this chapter, aside from simply acknowledging that we experience regret as a part of our fallen lives, are the Biblical strategies for dealing with regret:

1. Enjoy the freedom of confession.
2. Embrace God’s forgiveness.
3. Embrace God’s sovereignty.
4. Clarify your identity.
5. Plant a new harvest.
6. Celebrity eternity.

If you’re not sure what any of these mean, or how to use these steps to deal biblically with regret, read the chapter again, and talk to your husband, wife, caregroup leader, or trusted friend about how this should apply to you. And remember:

“Accept the fact that you are a sinner living in a fallen world, keep reminding yourself that Christ really does live inside of you, and keep your eyes on eternity. Start celebrating early.” (p. 132)

Categories: Thursday Thoughts For Parents, five15 blog