Weekly Encouragement: Sorrow Can Be Good for Us

I often feel the sorrow and pain while confronting others of their wrongdoing and correcting them with love. Even speaking the truth in love is not easy or comfortable. These days many people do not want to be corrected or even told anything to change. However, one who loves, must confront the wrongdoer so the latter will not perish or ruin his/her life. How painful or difficult it may appear to be, confronting and confession are qualities that enhance one's character and personality.

Sometimes forgiving others or ourselves involves pain. When we confront people regarding betrayal, abandonment, abuse, deception, or other offenses, we are likely to be faced with deep sorrow. Even true forgiveness does not always completely remove the pain we feel. We need to accept this kind of pain as part of the consequences of sin and learn to freely express it to God. He can use the pain associated with wrong doing and bring about good in our lives.

Not all sorrow is bad for us The Apostle Paul had written a letter to the Corinthians and made them very sad because he confronted them with something that they were doing wrong. At first he was sorry that he had hurt them, but later, he said, "Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your way. It was the kind of sorrow God wants His people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow" (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

The grief Paul described was good, for it came from honest self-evaluation, not morbid self condemnation. We can learn to accept our sorrow for sin as a positive part of our spiritual growth. Whenever we encounter sorrow, we should ask God to use it to help us redirect the course of our lives.

Proverbs 3:11. My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction.

Be encouraged.

A. Othniel

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