Andy Stanley - Guardrails Participants Guide: Avoiding Regrets in Your Life

by Andy Stanley

Everybody knows what guardrails are. But you probably dont know the official definition.

Guardrails are actually a system designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas.

So they keep us out of danger... and inside the proper limits.

The theory behind a guardrail is that youll experience less injury to yourself, and maybe even less damage to your vehicle, if you strike a guardrail rather than crashing into something on the other side of it. The whole idea is that its okay to cause a small amount of harm in order to keep from experiencing something worse.

And think about this. Many guardrails exclude us from areas where, theoretically at least, we actually could drive. But driving there could be bad news.

We dont pay much attention to guardrails until the moment comes when we need one. As we drive along, theyre an invisible part of our traveling experience.

Were glad theyre thereon bridges, in medians, and around curvesbut for the most part, we pay no attention to them.

Guardrails. Its a concept that relates keenly to other areas of our lives.

Because chances are, if wed had some form of guardrails established in a certain area, we could have avoided our greatest regrets in life. It might be something that hurt us financially, relationally, morally, or professionally. Whatever it was, and however much it hurt, it might never have happened if only wed established some protective barriers.

In our dangerous culture, were all aware of certain destructive consequences, the kind we dont want in our lives.

If we could set up some guardrails that would always keep those tragic consequences on the other side of themwouldnt that be worth it? Then whenever we bumped against them, they would keep us from destroying our lives.

We never plan to mess up, but it happens so easily when we fail to establish guardrails.

We shouldnt ignore this whole concept because we think, Well, I just hope God will protect me. Because Gods protection for us actually comes through the guardrails hes given us throughout the Bible. Yes, he intends to protect us, and thats how.

Whats sad is how we flirt with disaster in so many significant arenas of life. Many of us naturally assume we can play as close to the edge of the abyss as we want without experiencing harm. We like the thrill of just being there. And though we know about the danger (after all, thats why its so thrilling), we dont really think were personally at risk of falling.

Were so self-confident. But believe me, so were those who went over the cliff, right up until the moment they plunged uncontrollably into tragedy.

Think about your future a moment. Can you imagine what it might be like if, from now on, you had adequate guardrails in place in all the significant areas of your life? We need them because our culture is baiting us to the edge of disaster, only to scold or punish us if we ever step across the line.

So lets stop flirting with disaster and take time now to set up the protections we need.

No one has ever regretted establishing a guardrailbut there are plenty of us who look back and regret not having them.