Have you ever wanted something and then, when you got it, regretted it? Perhaps there was someone you found friendly and attractive and thought to yourself, “Wow! I’d really like to get to know that person!” Then you get into a relationship and find yourself in a place you must get out of? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, we read about someone who thought they really wanted something in the Bible and then regretted their choice when they got it.

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Genesis 16:1-2 (NIV)

Sarai thought she could build a family through Hagar but quickly discovered she had been in error.

Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

Genesis 16:5 (NIV)

We’ve all made choices we’ve regretted. Making wrong decisions and dealing with the consequences is part of life. However, how we handle our poor decisions is what matters. How did Sarai handle her choice? Let’s see.

“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

Genesis 16:6 (NIV)

Sarai takes out her feelings on Hagar instead of accepting responsibility for her actions. Despite blaming Abram for her decision and its consequences, Abram tells her to do as she fits instead of getting into an argument over it.

When we make a decision, we’re the ones who make it. We can choose to go one way or another way. Sometimes, even when we ask the Lord which way to go, and we go the way we think he wants us to go, it doesn’t go how we expect. Do we blame God? Do we blame the circumstances that led to the poor choice, or do we accept our role and trust that God will turn it out for our good?

When we make poor choices, it’s easy to blame everyone but ourselves. However, the poor decisions we make allow us to grow more than the right choices we make. When we handle the consequences of poor decisions poorly, we’re doomed to repeat those things until we get them right. This leads me to two of my favorite verses from Proverbs.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.