Why do I regret doing the right thing?

[chessnerd321]

I won’t go into specifics. But why do I regret my good choices. Sins I didn’t commit. I suppose it’s almost a retrospective version of presumption “I could’ve done it and been where I am now nonetheless.” Which of course we all know could’ve very well not be true, but it doesn’t stop me from thinking it.

Can someone just tell me I’m not the only one who’s felt this way? Saints would be great.

 

[LateranBasilica]

You regret not sinning?

 

[Maezck]

The only good thoughts I have regretted ie sin that maybe I wanted to commit, were some dark thoughts, disobedience to God in some manner, cussing out someone, etc. There’s a lot of sin that I sometimes feel like I regret making a good choice in favor of God. It’s part of being human I would add.
I’m not sure if this helps, but maybe understanding deeper what sin is in general as the Catechism states under Definition of Sin 1849: comes from a place that goes against reason, truth, and right conscious. So to injure or wound our soul, to act on sin and commit it; that fact alone for me is good enough reason to know that all efforts toward good choices, shouldn’t be regretted. Although thoughts about regret may be venial and emotionally not controllable sometimes, sin is categorically considered turning our hearts away from God. Presumptions, well God cannot be fooled even if our intellect can. I hope that helps.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s1c1a8.htm

 

[AlruwhAlquds]

I would guess that it’s the trick of the enemy to make you feel like you should have sinned. But I don’t know your situation, you’ve given me limited info to read.

I think I can relate: I recall as a teenager, a cashier forgot to ring up three garments for me, she folded and bagged them (she was new and I had several garments). I wasn’t paying attention, and as I walked out I thought the bill was much lower. I walked out of the door with merchandise and no sensor went off, but I turned around after leaving and went to her. She was so happy I returned as she was new and would have been fired. She bagged three dress shirts for me that she folded and forgot to ring up. I walked out paying at least 35.00 more. When I told family members (adults) I was told could have gotten then for free that I should have kept going. It left me unsure. Bottom line, it was the right choice and I’m sure satan wouldn’t want me to do that again so feeling unsure will help that agenda. Sometimes it’s the teachings of those in our family that echo in our head when we try to make the right choice. I don’t think my family is evil, but they wanted me to be ahead and were tempted to say, it’s oaky when really it isn’t! As an adult with children I’ve learned to have confidence in being more virtuous and modeling that for my kids. Hopefully you can find confidence in doing the right thing.

 

[chessnerd321]

But I don’t know your situation, you’ve given me limited info to read.

I guess it ranges to a lot of things. From being about to graduate college and realizing that people who cheated (constantly in some cases, one doubts if they learned anything) are getting job offers while I’m still not. To times I wish I told people off that I didn’t. To stuff I’d rather not admit even online.

Maybe it’s natural to be moving on from a stage in your life (college). And be wondering what you missed out on. I suppose not all the thoughts I have of that nature involve sin.

 

[MasterXploder7]

You are not the only one who has thought this way. “I could have done X, Y or Z while I was still a sinner but now I can’t”. Sometimes the thought comes to me as well. But nevertheless. God is patient. God is kind. God justifies the sinner. I am often over taken by my fear of God but we shouldn’t forget his love for us. He died for us while we were still enraptured by sin wholly and purely. So those sins of “X, Y and Z” don’t sound so entrancing. They don’t sound so appetizing anymore. Sometimes we stumble. Sometimes we fall. But as long as we have strength, then lets make the Father, Son and Holy Spirit our X, Y and Z.