2 Corinthians 7:9-11
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
When we sin, we should feel grief for our actions. We should not just flippantly ignore the sin and its consequences. But we need to have the right kind of grief. Verse 10 says, "godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death". So what is the difference? For one, godly grief (also translated as "sorrow") brings repentance, that is, it causes a change in attitude and behavior. It is not just a pity party for how awful life is, but is a motivation to change. Worldly grief is just feeling sorry for ourselves, feeling like a hopeless victim, but not being willing to make the difficult but necessary changes in our life. When sorrow produces change, that is good, for it brings us closer to God.
Dear God, when I sin help me to not just feel sorry for myself, but may the ugliness of my sin motivate me to change.
9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
When we sin, we should feel grief for our actions. We should not just flippantly ignore the sin and its consequences. But we need to have the right kind of grief. Verse 10 says, "godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death". So what is the difference? For one, godly grief (also translated as "sorrow") brings repentance, that is, it causes a change in attitude and behavior. It is not just a pity party for how awful life is, but is a motivation to change. Worldly grief is just feeling sorry for ourselves, feeling like a hopeless victim, but not being willing to make the difficult but necessary changes in our life. When sorrow produces change, that is good, for it brings us closer to God.
Dear God, when I sin help me to not just feel sorry for myself, but may the ugliness of my sin motivate me to change.