In working through my own personal issues, I hear the Holy Spirit say to me “never feel bad about growth - never regret seeing or hearing truth”. These are to be celebrated, never regretted. For they work repentance in our heart and lead to growth and increase within. We see this in our scripture today. Godly sorrow leads us to a place of repentance, when truth is revealed and that to salvation.
We all have limitations. We all have those places God is not done conforming us to His image. I’m sure this is a lifetimes work, continuing until we finally see Him as He is.
Elihu, from Job’s story in chapter 36 beginning in verse eight, tells Job that if one of us is bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, that God declares our work and our transgressions to us, that we are behaving arrogantly. He, God, opens our ears to instruction and commands that we return from iniquity. If we listen and serve him, we complete our days in prosperity and our years in pleasantness. If not, we perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
Over and over, we find from the word of God, the place trouble in our life enters is through a separation between us and God. Jesus bore our iniquity that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus bore the nature in every one of us that turns our hearts rom God and His commands. Isaiah 53 calls this iniquity. Jesus bore “every one turning to his own way” that we might be united with him and walk in His righteousness.
Being one with God is a sure foundation. It doesn’t promise us an easy path, but it does assure us that we are with Him and He is working, leading and guiding us through all. Our ears hear and our hearts obey. Consider it the divine tweaking keeping us on the straight and narrow.
Paul said godly sorrow works salvation, defined from the Greek as a savior, deliverer. Safety, deliverance, preservation from danger or destruction. That’s a good thing.
That’s the love of the Father, for what Father is there that does not discipline the child he loves. Remember Hebrews 12 admonition; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live, knowing He works all things together for our good.