A few of us will testify to the melancholy of regret. The bile of wrong decisions. The gastric of sin. What shadows assail us when we sink into the reality of choosing a wrong turn, instead of a right one. The experience can be rightly termed "sorrow".
It is a raw experience. One that many should avoid. Countless warning needless to say, pieces of wisdom, prophetic go before a fall. This is the reason when the fall comes, it almost brings dementia because in one's mind, the phrases keep churning "How could I do it?" "I am so fake" "I wish I had done the right thing"... and more.
Sorrow.
Sorrow has ever made me sick. It is a disease of the heart. It behaves like a poison that reaches to all parts of the body. Yet I realised, sorrow comes in two packages.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Sorrow has ever made me sick, because it was the sorrow of the world. It was the sorrow that refused me to take my eyes off myself. It was the sorrow that kept my eyes on the tablets. It was the sorrow that removed my set of eyes called hope. It was the sorrow that closed all doors and windows. It is the epitome of pride.
Godly sorrow on the other hand is a conduit of rebirth, renewal, it is revision in itself. It is humility. It is proper for it to take course so completely wash out silt of a believer who has willingly turned aside.
Sorrow must not be confused for repentance, it is the first step- it is the initial step to repentance in that it is a realisation, an acceptance, an admittance of straying.
Godly sorrow must equip us with new resolve, higher standards, greater humility towards others who have fallen, deeper appreciation for God's law for it indeed cultivates health, purer love for grace for it makes it possible to have renewal.
Godly sorrow must remind us, God is holy, God is love, God is merciful. In the absence of this truth, we are hopelessly waiting for a judgement as if we were fashioned for wrath.
1Th_5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom_5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
I am not willing to impress upon you that I am a flawless person. I too have made my errors, I have occasionally gone the other side and dined in the lusts of the world. I have willingly put aside truth and embraced lies, sadly to the dishonor and sorrow of my Father in heaven.
Nevertheless, I am also not willing to deny the great gift of God- which is His Son, who forgives and disciplines His Children. (This discipline is very much present in godly sorrow). I am also not giving in to license but realising that if God has opened the door to freedom, who am I to sustain my pride and want to pay for my own sins?
We must learn to yield to forgiveness and walk in the light thereafter.
Be blessed.
Rom_4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Jas 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
