A “do over” is the kid’s version of taking a mulligan in golf. It is doing something a second time as if it were the first time… except you have knowledge the second time you didn’t have the first time so that the second time you don’t make the mistakes you made the first time.
Did that make sense, or do I need a “do over?”
I have thought a lot over the past 2 years about what a do over would mean in my life. I have wondered how my life would be different if I did something different… or didn’t do something I did… during that two year time period. I have run over the scenarios in my mind time and time and time again. I have second guessed myself and asked more “I wonder what would have happened if?” questions than you can imagine.
I’ve come to a conclusion. I don’t want any “do overs.” I’m glad (And thankful to God) that things happened the way they did and the results that came about took place. I’m of the conviction that wanting and/or longing for a “do over” second chance denies the providence and sovereignty of God. Did you get that? Regretting what is in the past and wanting a “do over” ignores the will and power of God in my life (IMHO). Note: And I’ve thought through that carefully…
Should I have done things different? Sometimes. Will I be held accountable for my mistakes and failures? Of course. Would I do anything different? Probably not. And there is a very good reason for writing that.
Some of my greatest blessings would not have happened had I not “made a mistake” at a point in the past. There are events I look back upon as turning points in my life that at the time I perceived to be failures and/or mistakes. However… it was those very things that I deemed mistakes were the very things that brought about blessings I would not have received otherwise!
Think about it! Do you think there were times Joseph wanted a “do over?” Did his brothers at some point want a “do over?” Did Joseph’s dad want a “do over” about sending his son to find his brothers? But in the end, Joseph realized a “do over” at any point in his life would have gone against God’s will for the saving of many lives! As it is written in Genesis 50:20, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!”
Does that mean I shouldn’t think… pray… plan… and seek God’s will but rather just fly by the seat of my pants? Heck no! That would be presuming upon God… which is a sin. So instead I rest upon the following…
Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”
Proverbs 16:33, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”
That means I do all I can… make as wise a decision as I can… and leave the outcome in God’s hand without regret!!!