How God Can Redeem Your Past
3 steps to move forward in faith
“Regret keeps us tethered to moments we can’t change, but grace invites healing and growth.“” ~Britt Maher
Have you ever looked back and thought, What If? What if I had taken that opportunity?
What if I hadn’t let fear hold me back? What if I had trusted God sooner?
Regret is a heavy burden to carry. It whispers that we’ve wasted too much time, missed too many chances, and fallen too far behind.
Brittany Maher, author, speaker, and ministry founder joined Family Life Radio to talk about it. She’s wrestled with seasons of idleness and hesitation, wondering how much further along she could have been if she hadn’t let fear, doubt, or distractions hold her back.
“Sometimes I think, God, what could You have done through my life had I not let fear pull me back? But the thing that’s important to identify is regret comes from shame.”
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve wasted too much time for God to use you, please know “as long as you have a pulse, you have a purpose.” (32:10) God is not done with you. Your past doesn’t disqualify you from your future.
The Weight of Regret vs. the Power of Grace
Regret can feel paralyzing. It keeps us stuck in the past, replaying moments over and over—things we wish we had done differently, words we wish we could take back.
But Brittany reminds us that regret and grace lead to two very different places:
🚫 Regret keeps us tethered to moments we can’t change.
✅ Grace invites healing and growth.
🚫 Regret leads to shame.
✅ Grace leads to redemption.
🚫 Regret says, “You failed.”
✅ Grace says, “You are forgiven.”
🚫 Regret says, “It’s too late.”
✅ Grace says, “I can redeem this.”
The difference? God. “God doesn’t put an expiration date on His plans for your life.”
No mistake is beyond His ability to redeem.
Reframing Your Regret
Brittany encouragedsencourages us to give regret a new name. “Rather than looking at past mistakes as wasted years, we can see them as grace-filled reflections—places where we can learn, heal, and grow.”
Ask yourself:
- What did I learn from that season?
- How did God shape me through it?
- How can I move forward differently?
This shift in mindset allows healing to take place. Because your past isn’t a prison—it’s a lesson.
Have you missed God’s plan? Not a chance. Maybe you’re thinking, But what if I really did miss it? What if I ignored God for too long?
Brittany reminds us that God is not limited by our missteps. “I believe we serve a redeeming God who doesn’t put an expiration date on what He can do in us and through us.”
Even if you feel like you’ve veered off course, God always has another route. “God has Plan A, B, C, and D. Wherever you are, He still has a path forward.” Just like a GPS recalculates when we take a wrong turn, God redirects us with grace.
It’s never too late when you walk with a God who redeems lost time.
When Regret Becomes the Enemy’s Weapon
Regret is one of the enemy’s favorite tactics.
👿 He reminds you of your past, so you feel unworthy of your future.
👿 He keeps you stuck in what could have been so you don’t step into what could be.
👿 He whispers that you’ve wasted too much time, so you stop believing in what’s still possible.
But Brittany warned, “If I were the enemy, I would do whatever I could to make people believe they’re unusable.” (26:23) The enemy wants you stuck in regret—because if you stay focused on the past, you won’t move forward into God’s purpose.
God wastes nothing.
Even your mistakes, detours, and delays—He can use them all for good.
How to Let Go of Regret and Move Forward
If you’ve been carrying the weight of regret, it’s time to release it and step into grace.
1. Surrender your regrets to God.
You don’t have to carry the weight of your past alone. God isn’t holding your mistakes over you—He’s offering to redeem them.
“We need to allow ourselves to feel godly sorrow, but not so that it keeps us stuck—so that it convicts us to change.” (39:08)
Repentance isn’t punishment—it’s freedom.
2. Choose grace over shame.
When regret comes knocking, answer with grace.
- Instead of I messed up too badly, say, God is bigger than my mistakes.
- Instead of I missed my chance, say, God is still working in me.
- Instead of It’s too late, say, God is a Redeemer of time.
Britt continued, “Grace invites healing, learning, and spiritual growth.” (39:49)
3. Take the next step—no matter how small.
Regret keeps us frozen in the past. Grace propels us forward.
Ask yourself, What is one step of obedience I can take today?
- A conversation you’ve been avoiding.
- A small act of faithfulness.
- A decision to trust God again.
“I can’t change the past, but I can choose obedience today.” (32:56) And that’s what matters most.
Your past doesn’t define you—God’s grace does.
No matter what’s behind you, God is calling you forward.
“You do not have to stay tethered to regret. You are free to walk in grace.” Your past is not your prison. Your mistakes are not your identity. Your regrets do not define your purpose.
God does.
Connect with Britt Maher on Insta.
You can also check out her books here.
Want more? Check out our ondemand resources
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