Every week, Bec and Asa speak with local pastors who share wisdom for everyday life. This week, Pastor Shaphan Williams ,from Oceans Church, unpacked the idea of the “vision mirror of regrets.”
Looking Back Can Hold You Back
Pastor Shaphan began with a story about driving with his kids. “They’d hold up a toy or drawing and say, ‘Dad, look at this.’ I’d glance in the rearview mirror, but I had to keep looking forward to keep them safe,” he explained.
He compared this to how regrets work in our lives. “Our past failures are like kids yelling from the back seat, demanding attention. If we keep looking back, we risk crashing.”
Falling but Rising Again
The Bible reminds us that mistakes don’t have to define us. Pastor Shaphan shared Proverbs 24:16: “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes”
He explained, “Although our past tries to capture our attention, the encouragement is clear we can get back up and keep moving.”
Keeping Eyes on Jesus
Life often feels like a race. For Pastor Shaphan, the key to running it well is focus. “The Bible encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus. He’s the source of forgiveness, healing, and hope for the future,” he said.
Instead of circling around guilt or shame, he urged listeners to lift their gaze. “Take your eyes off the rearview mirror and put them on Jesus. That’s how we move forward.”
Breaking Free from the Spiral
Many people find it hard to escape regret. Pastor Shaphan offered practical advice: “If I stay in my own head, I spiral. But sharing with a trusted friend helps bring things into the light. If they’re a Christian, they can even pray with you. That’s often the circuit breaker.”
He also referenced Ecclesiastes: “If you’re alone, it’s harder. But when someone has your back, you can fight better together.”
Hope That Lifts Us
Ultimately, Pastor Shaphan pointed to the difference hope makes. “No matter how many times we fall, we have hope in Jesus. Without that, it’s easy to feel hopeless. Our strength runs out, but His doesn’t.”