“The Pointlessness of Regrets: What Could Have Been, Would Have Been”

Have you ever wondered how many times we think to ourselves, “What could have been… would have been… if only I had…”?
It sounds like regret, doesn’t it? Because it is.

Regret is one of those universal emotions that touches every human heart. Every one of us has them — big or small, personal or shared. Regrets are those moments in life when we look back and wish we could have done something differently. They’re the lingering “if onlys” that echo in our minds long after the moment has passed.

But here’s the truth:
Regrets are useless memories. They belong to yesterday, and yesterday cannot be changed.

The Nature of Regret

Regrets often come from things we couldn’t control — or things we did control, but didn’t handle well. Either way, they bind us to the past.
Some people carry regrets for a lifetime, letting them eat away at their joy. Others learn to release them, to forgive themselves, and to move forward.

The difference lies in choice.
We can either let regrets imprison our hearts, or we can let them teach us.

Pain is natural. Healing is spiritual.

The Lesson of Joseph

The story of Joseph, son of Jacob, reminds us that even painful experiences and deep regrets serve a purpose.
Joseph’s brothers betrayed him, sold him into slavery, and told their father he was dead. Imagine the regret that followed!
Jacob, the heartbroken father, mourned the loss of his favorite son. The brothers lived in fear and guilt. And Joseph himself — betrayed, imprisoned, and forgotten — must have questioned everything.

But in time, we see God’s plan unfold. Joseph rose to power in Egypt and became the very person who saved his family and his people from famine.
What began in regret ended in redemption.
What looked like tragedy became testimony.

God allowed it all for a reason.
Through pain, He brings purpose. Through loss, He brings growth. Through regret, He brings realization.

What Might Have Been

So what could have been, might have been — if it were meant to be.
Because what has been, had to be, for what will be.

Regret serves no purpose except to remind us of what we’ve already survived. We cannot change the past, but we can learn from it.
Yesterday is a closed book. Its lessons belong to us, but its pages no longer need to be rewritten.

Let Go and Trust

Let us not allow regrets to take our hearts hostage.
Instead, let’s trust that everything — even our mistakes — are part of God’s greater plan.
As Scripture tells us, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So next time you find yourself saying, “What could have been…” — pause, breathe, and remember:
What could have been, would have been, if God wanted it to be.

And since it wasn’t, it means something better is already written in your story.

“Regret fades when faith takes over. What could have been, would have been — but what will be is always in God’s hands.”

Have you ever struggled with regret? Please Share below!