It's Time To Stop Being Sorry

Some people live their entire life in an apologetic tone. The words “I’m sorry” are necessary and helpful, but they cannot become your identity. Yes, there is a time for sorrow and a time to say it (James 4:9). Solomon tells us that there is “a time to weep” (Ecclesiastes 3:4), but that is only to be for a season. No one can live in the season of sorrow forever.

When God brings brokenness it is always for a divine purpose: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). His brokenness leads to blessing.

While a heart of repentance is to be a way of life, sorrow is not! God turns sorrow to joy (Jeremiah 31:13). “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Once the new beginning comes the sorrow is to be replaced with joy!

Have you repented of your sin? Have you put your faith in the sufficiency of Christ? Have you committed your way to God? Then it is time to stop being sorry.

Satan, the accuser of the brethren, wants to keep bringing up the past. The enemy would love nothing more than for you to wallow in regret and remorse for the rest of your life! But the Spirit of truth says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Guilt is not of God.

It is time to get past your past. It is time to stop being sorry…and start rejoicing in the grace of God. When the sin is put away it is time to put the sorrow away.

After David’s repentance and prayer for his baby there came a time when he put away the sackcloth and ashes. He wrote in Psalm 51, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation…and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise” (v. 12, 14b, 15). Satan drives sinners down; Jesus lifts us up! Sin closes in on you, but the Lord opens the heart!

The question is: HOW? The memories of failure can loom large in the mind. Only God is greater…

1. Think on the holiness of God. We are all sinners but meditate more on HIS holiness and the fact that you are being made a partaker of it. Holiness and happiness are connected in Scripture! Think on the perfectly holy God and find your joy in HIm.
2. Discover the joy of God. He rejoices when sinners come home and we should join Him in that rejoicing. Sin does not define us. We have been “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). When God’s people were continually weeping and mourning over how they had broken His law the Lord sent them a message: “…This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep…this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:9-10). Mourn over sin and then rejoice over salvation. It’s time to stop being sorry.
3. Appropriate the strength of God. In the verse above we learn that strength is connected to joy. Sorrow weakens the spirit. Rejoice in who God is and what He has done for an undeserving sinner and you will find fresh courage and strength to move forward.

We all have things in our past which we would like to change. In this sense, we are all “sorry” for failures. But if you stay stuck in that sin and sorrow you will never enjoy the life and liberty that God has prepared for you. 

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever” (Psalm 30:11-12).

Allow the confession to turn to praise and testimony. It’s time to stop being sorry.