The Joy of Conviction & Godly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7
9 Now I rejoice, not because you were made sorry, but because you were sorrowful unto repentance: for ye were made grieved after a godly manner, that you might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil,: but worldly/fleshly sorrow is deadly resulting only in death.
11 For look back now and observe that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, and observe what this same godly sorrow has done for you and has produced in you…

• Why would we give thanks for such an experience of the burden of sin? How can we find comfort in sorrow for sin? It may seem strange to rejoice in such regret and shame.
• But look what such sorrow produces, repentance that leads to restored fellowship and rejoicing! The greater the sorrow, the greater the repentance, the greater the rejoicing!! Hallelujah! “But he who is forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:47

Romans 2
4 Or are you so blind as to despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant of the fact that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent?

• Consider this thoroughly… It is God’s loving kindness that leads us to repentance. It is His mercy that allows us to feel such guilt and grief. In order to repent we must first acknowledge and confess our shame, weakness and sin. Coming to such an understanding of our flesh in the eyes of our perfect, loving Saviour is a painful and shameful realisation.
• Why? Why does God lead us to such regret, shame and anguish? Why does His goodness lead us to experience such sorrow, grief and conviction? How on earth does the acknowledgement of such wretchedness demonstrate the Almighty Love of God?

Hebrews 12
6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.
7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all].
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11 For the present time no discipline/punishment brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness-in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

• God deals with us as His children!!! The heart of The Father thoroughly delights in His sons and daughters! The Born Again believer is a child of God and heir with Christ! He has placed His glory on us! He LOVES US with an everlasting love! He disciplines us for our good; to restore us to Him and to glorify His name in and through His people!
• Jacob spoke truly when he said “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercy and loving-kindness and all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant” Genesis 32:10. We are not worthy of the least of all His mercies!! We are worthy of God’s wrath and hell! But God, who is rich in mercy and great love takes time to teach us, correct us and has promised to forgive our sins when we sincerely confess our lack and disobedience to Him.
• Our Heavenly Father longs for us to come to Him in repentance so that He can restore us into glorious communion and fellowship in His secret place of intimacy!

Psalm 23
4 Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

• For the heart/soul that longs to abide in “the secret place of The Most High” there is such great comfort in the chastisement and conviction of The Lord! How precious are His proddings, pressings and painful lessons! How precious is the privilege and opportunity to have our flesh/sin exposed and then to come in confession and repentance!
• To be lovingly, though sternly corrected by The Shepherd, to be taught and rebuked in love by Almighty God! It is so incredible that God would be so patient and tender with these failing, lusting hearts! But HALLELUJAH!!! WHAT A SAVIOUR!!

Psalm 119
65 You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your promise.
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67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
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71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
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75 I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right and righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

Psalm 51
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
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12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted and return to You.
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15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.|

• REPENTANCE ALWAYS LEADS TO REJOICING!! We are not to live in a constant state of sorrow, we are not to remain in a state of affliction and grief. To stay there is to continue in sin!
• When The Lord does lead us to repentance, when Godly sorrow does overwhelm us, when the burden and guilt of lack and sin weighs us down… Then let us come in obedience, humbled but boldly to His feet and confess and repent! And immediately we do we can rise up REJOICING! For He forgives!!! He restores, cleanses and forgets!! Hallelujah!! Praise The Lord!! Oh, what great love and comfort there is in The Lord’s chastening!
• Oh, praise God for His tender mercies and loving kindnesses that lead us to sorrowful repentance. Oh God, THANK YOU for the dealing of your Holy Spirit! Oh Lord give us more of your Godly sorrow for sin that we might praise you all the more for your love, mercy, patience, forgiveness, long suffering and compassion.