Good Grief

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As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.  For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.  For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.  II Corinthians 7:9-10

What does true repentance look like?  We've all heard the question, "Are you really sorry or just sorry you got caught?"  There certainly is a difference.  How do we react when confronted with our sin?  Do we make excuses, rationalize, maybe toss out a feeble "I'm sorry" before moving on with our lives? Do we only regret that we have to live with the consequences of our sin? Or do we show signs of true repentance (change of mind and direction) over our sin?  Do we genuinely grieve that we've offended a Holy God?  

Kevin DeYoung discusses the difference between worldly and godly grief in chapter 10 of his book The Hole in Our Holiness:

"Worldly grief is an expression of regret over opportunities lost, painful present circumstances, or personal embarrassment. . .Because worldly grief does not allow us to see our offensiveness to God, we don't deal with our sin in a vertical direction.  And when we don't repent upward, we don't get forgiveness from God, the lack of which leads to spiritual death.  Worldly grief deals with symptoms, not with the disease.  It produces despair, bitterness, and depression because it focuses on regret for the past (which can't be changed) instead of personal sinfulness (which can always be forgiven)."

"Godly grief recognizes the utter sinfulness of sin and hates it more and more. . .Repentance looks to God.  Most of us are content with regret.  We just want to feel bad for awhile, have a good cry, enjoy the cathartic experience, bewail our sin, and talk about how sorry we are.  But we don't want to change. We don't want to deal with God. Godly grief is a fruitful and effective emotion.  The Spirit uses it to spur us to action, to make us zealous for good works, and to help us run from sin and start walking in the opposite direction."

If we are truly repentant, we will cry out as did David, Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!  Psalm 51:1-2