During a summer football camp, the coaches wore T-shirts with a message that said: “Each day you must choose: the pain of hard work or the pain of regret.”

Hard work and discipline are often things we don’t want to do. But in sport and in life, the short-term pain of effort is often the only way to do better in the long run. We need to be in training before the hard times come. Too often we’re left saying “What if”, “If only” and “I should’ve”. That’s the pain of regret.

It’s painful to look back at our choices and see things we could have done better. This was how one psalm writer felt: “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him” (PS. 32:10).

By looking back on his mistakes, he saw how much better it was to live a life that trusts God every day. That’s the kind of training we need to be ready for the problems that will be thrown our way. If we’re walking closely with Him and relying on Him for everything we need, we don’t have to have lives full of regret.

By: Bill Crowder

To Pray About . . .

Lord, I don't know what's around the corner, but I choose to submit my life to You and walk closely with You, so that I will live my life to the fullest.