I’ll never forget the moment I stood face to face with regret. Life had unfolded in ways I never expected, and I could see how fear and circumstances outside my control had swept away something precious I could never get back: time.
The ache was deep. Where do I go from here?
We’ve all faced similar moments—whether because of choices we’ve made or because of the choices of others. But in these moments, the right response is usually not what feels most natural—either lying down in defeat or using that emotion to push us into striving to recover.
Instead, it’s embarking on a journey that leads to true, lasting restoration.
This regret-to-renewal pathway is something the Israelites were deeply familiar with. For generations, they faced regret—some from their own choices; some from the choices of others.
After God delivered them from centuries of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:40-41), an eleven-day journey to the land He had promised them stretched into forty years because of their fear and doubt (Numbers 14:33-34). Forty years—talk about regret!
Even after reaching the Promised Land, cycles of unfaithfulness continued. Eventually, they experienced devastating loss—their northern kingdom (Israel) fell to Assyria, and their southern kingdom (Judah) was exiled in Babylon, while Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed.
Still, God’s heart for restoration never wavered.
After seventy years of exile (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Daniel 9:2), God sent men like Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah to lead His people home and help them recover what they’d lost. Their journey to renewal shows us how to recover, too.
First, they returned to their foundation—God. Zerubbabel led the first remnant back to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they didn’t rebuild walls or homes for protection. The first thing they built was the altar (Ezra 3:2-3). Why? They were making a choice to return to God and remember His sovereignty. This is where renewal starts for us too—remembering God’s sovereignty over our lives and worshiping Him above all else.
Second, God sent Ezra to help the people recover their identity as His people. Ezra devoted himself to studying, obeying, and teaching God’s law (Ezra 7:10). As the people heard the Word read aloud, they were reminded they were chosen, beloved, and called to live differently. For us, too, moving from regret to renewal requires recovering our identity as God’s children—remembering who we’re meant to be and how we’re to live. The Word is an invaluable tool in this.
Finally, God sent Nehemiah to lead the rebuild—to help His people restore what had been lost. For them, it was their wall—a protective barrier and a symbol of national dignity. As they honored God, He empowered them to rebuild the wall in only fifty-two days (Nehemiah 6:15), even as they faced enemies at every turn.
Friend, what needs rebuilt in your life? God never leaves us in loss—when we choose His way, He restores what regret has stolen!
