Truths on Godly Sorrow for Humans Following Hard After God
Love can look different than you want it to – it can feel different than you hope it would. But, Beloved, that does not mean it is not loving. Look how close the Corinthians came to keeping Paul out of their hearts. The heartache of godly sorrow is deep.
He confronted them, they were hurt. Confrontation is usually painful, for everyone involved. How very careful we need to be not to harden our hearts to either the message of the confrontation or the messenger.
“Confrontation is not easy for any of us. We tend to shrink from it or rationalize away its necessity.”
Bible Gateway, News of the Corinthian’s Obedience
“Make room for us in your hearts — we haven’t wronged anyone, we haven’t corrupted anyone, we haven’t exploited anyone.”
2 Corinthians 7:2
The Heartache of Godly Sorrow Brings Life
Can you imagine being a people so humble that we can accept a confrontation, repent, love our confronter and be glad for their joy over our repentance? Can you imagine a confronter so humble that they wait patiently for us to work through the pain they caused us and respond with celebration when we finally ‘get’ the message?
“I am very proud of you; that you have filled me with encouragement; and that in spite of all our troubles, I am overflowing with joy.”
2 Corinthians 7:3
Embrace Those that Love You Enough to Be Truthful
“…he told us how you long to see me, how distressed you are over my situation, how zealous you are in my defense — this news made me even happier!”
2 Corinthians 7:7
The truths of godly sorrow include a humility that is not concerned with saving face.
Likewise, if you have been obedient in a situation that required confrontation – it’s okay to feel the pain of the person or people you were called upon to speak truth to. However, do not allow yourself to be filled with self-righteousness in this situation. For, if you do, in the end, you will miss the joy and closeness that can arise from this sort of Biblical love.
“If I caused you pain by my letter, I do not regret it. Even if I did regret it before — for I do see that that letter did distress you, though only for a short time — 9 now I rejoice not because you were pained, but because the pain led you to turn back to God.”
2 Corinthians 7:8
2 Corinthian 7 Says Handling Pain the World’s Way Leads to Death
Truth spoken can cause us pain. That is a Biblical truth we would rather not exist. But, alas, it does. How we handle the pain will determine the course of our walk with God.
The truth that causes pain handled the world’s way equals death. Have you seen that walked out? End of fellowships, death of friendships, marriages, and destruction of integrity in individuals and groups. The truth; godly sorrow will bring forth life, not death or destruction.
2 Corinthians Chapter 7 Shows God’s Way to Deal with Pain
Therefore, let’s explore what Second Corinthian’s 7 has to say about God’s way of handling pain brought on the confrontation of our flaws or sins.
2 Corinthians 7:10 & 11 shows us that God’s way exhibits:
- earnest diligence
- eagerness to be clean and clear oneself
- indignation
- fear
- longing
- zeal
- readiness to right things
- willingness to obey with reverence and respect
“Pain handled in God’s way produces a turning from sin to God which leads to salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world’s way produces only death. 11 For just look at what handling the pain God’s way produced in you! What earnest diligence, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what readiness to put things right!”
2 Corinthians 7:10-11
Imagine with me, if you will, for a moment a fellowship of believers that were so sold out to their God, that personal pain and shame were mere side notes in their walk. Something we expect to happen as we walk closer with Yeshua (Jesus).