day 14: godly grief.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas wordly grief produces death. – II Corinthians 7.10

I’ve talked thus far about what gets in the way of purposeful simplicity: outside noise and inside noise. Now . . . what to do with all this junk I’m facing as I realize just how noisy my life is?

Until I read the verse above it never occurred to me that I have a choice between the kinds of grief I feel: there’s godly grief (or sorrow), which as the apostle Paul says, produces repentance and leads to salvation without regret. This is the good kind of sorrow. It’s painful for a season, but the end of it is freedom and joy.

But there’s another kind of grief: worldly grief which produces death. I think this is the kind of sorrow that I usually experience, the sorrow that sees my sin and feels overwhelmed by it and despairs and never changes. Instead I busy myself more, so I don’t have to think about it so much. I get defensive, and say, “Well I’m trying my best; I’m not as bad as a I could be.” I work harder to do good things for God, hoping against hope the good will outweigh the bad that’s staining my life.

And here, my friends, is where I come to the real crossroads in my journey.

It’s hard enough to admit that I’m wrong. But many people are able to get this far, to admit that. But it’s a whole other thing entirely to humble myself and say, “Okay. I’ll change.” To accept the extravagant forgiveness God offers and lift up my head and smile for joy. And then to get up and life differently, little choice by little choice.

It’s easier to wallow. To think, I’m a terrible person; there’s something wrong with me to my core. I don’t deserve any better.

Do you understand that is not the gospel? It’s pride. It’s saying, “I have to earn my way.” It’s also unbelief, saying, “There’s no hope that the God of the universe could change me.” According to the Bible, those are two pretty serious sins.

And so here is where you and I have to stop and think and choose. We will have to do it over and over and over again in the Christian life. We will have to begin again in the gospel every day.

Will you choose godly grief with me? Will you choose to humble yourself and accept forgiveness and mercies fresh every morning, and then make the choice to change? Will you believe God is powerful enough to give victory over sin? Will you purposefully choose life?

It’s the path that makes all the difference.