The Bible is filled with stories of sorrow. From King David losing his children to the Israelites’ lament during Babylonian captivity to the waling of women losing their young sons to King Herod’s horrid massacre, scripture details many accounts of sorrow. It is an unavoidable state of being. We have all wept. We have all sorrowed.
Yet, sorrow isn’t only associated with grief or loss. Sometimes, we sorrow because of how someone has treated us or how we perceive someone’s treatment. People’s actions and words have mistreated some of us, and those deeds and words often leave a lasting impression on us. People can be harsh, mean, and unkind—leaving the victims of their awful ways betrayed and wounded.
But there is a type of sorrow that is good. A kind of sorrow that leaves us in a better state than it found us. In 2 Corinthians 7, the Apostle Paul apologized to the Corinthian Church for any sorrow his previous letter may have caused. But then he admitted that he was not entirely sorry for his writing regardless of any sorrow they may’ve experienced from it. Paul wrote, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.” (2 Corinthians 7:8)
Paul’s words in his first letter may have wounded the Corinthians. His harsh rebuke against their sexual immorality, pride, and exalting of the apostles may have caused them sorrow. Anytime we live contrary to God’s word and are exposed to the truth, it hurts. Hebrews 4:12 declares that the word of God is quick, powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Therefore, the truth, which is the word of God, can wound us. When we encounter the word in our sins, it exposes us, cuts us, and hurts us … but it also heals. After Paul’s letter exposed the Corinthians' sinful ways, they were wounded, but they were also sorrowful. They experienced godly sorrow.
“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted …”
(2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV)
Although the Word of God hurt them, it also healed them through repentance and salvation. Whenever we honor God, we should become sorrowful if we sin against him. The believers at Corinth were not in God’s will in many areas of their lives, but they believed in God and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. So, they were sorry and repented when exposed as being out of God's will.
If the Corinthians were members of the Body of Christ who needed to repent, we must remember that we are not exempt from repentance. Repentance is not only for those who do not know God, but it is also for those who do know him. Many believers tend to accuse others of their need to repent while ignoring their own need for repentance. But it is not self-righteous judgment that God loves. It’s godly sorrow for our transgressions. Psalms 51:17 states, “The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart—these, O God, you will not despise.”
Experiencing godly sorrow is healthy for those who desire to remain submitted to God. Being exposed to God’s truth drives us to repentance and cleanses the heart—and a clean heart is what we all need before the Lord. For it is out of the heart that all manner of sin flows (Matthew 15:19). So, may we all experience godly sorrow when sin is exposed so that we may repent and be given a clean heart.
And this is why the Apostle Paul and his fellow companion in the gospel, Titus, experienced joy. Paul and Titus were joyful because although the Corinthians were sorrowful, they were changed. And because they were a transformed, sanctified body of believers, Paul was glad. “And his affections [Titus] are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. Therefore, I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.” (2 Corinthians 7:15-16).
Joy comes after godly sorrow. Joy should swell in the heart of the one who repents because they are renewed and made righteous before God through Christ. Joy should be found in the one who ministered truth to the sinner to expose sin. They should be joyful that their words aided in bringing someone out of the darkness. And joy absolutely fills God’s heart when they are restored back into his good graces. God, and all of heaven, become joyful after we experience godly sorrow.
Weeping indeed may endure for one night, but there is joy in the morning. We may weep when we fall short of God’s glory, but we rejoice when we repent, and he forgives. It is undoubtedly a joyous thing to have Jesus standing in the gap for all our sins. It is a joy to have someone carry the burden that we could not.
And so oddly enough, we should be joyful for godly sorrow because of its end results. Yet, it’s worth noting that, sadly, some are sorry for their sins, yet they do not make a change. They continuously weep, wail, and plead for God’s pardon but refuse to turn away from their sin. In this case, their sorrow isn’t good, nor is it healthy, because if their sorrow doesn’t lead to repentance, then the sorrow is in vain.
All sorrow leaves a lasting impression on us. It sticks with us and remains forever etched in our memories. Godly sorrow should be no different. We should never forget how God turned our mourning into joy after godly sorrow. May we always remember how he gave us an option for forgiveness and righteousness despite our sins through his only Son.
So, let us be joyful for godly sorrow—for without it, we wouldn’t have forgiveness, we wouldn’t have salvation, and we wouldn’t have the Lord. Thank God for repentance and salvation, and thank God for godly sorrow.
May this message bless you, and may God keep you.
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Be Blessed!
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