The Sorrow That Leads to Joy

In the first part of 2 Corinthians 7, Paul speaks of the undeserved afflictions suffered by himself and those with him.  He even mentions the word "depression."  However, there was something else here to which I related, and that was the theme of repentance.  

It may sound strange to some people that Paul said he rejoiced the Corinthians were made sorrowful to the point of repentance.  The important thing to see here was not that he wanted them to be sorrowful, but being sorrowful to repentance is a good thing, because true repentance means a person has turned from his or her sin.  If you have ever been a parent, you know what joy it brings when your child realizes something she or he has done is wrong, and tells you he is sorry.   But not only is he sorry, he does not continue the wrong-doing.

In my own life, I thought how happy I am that I have turned from sin and to Jesus.  I already believed and had a rich personal relationship with God;  but after a series of very difficult things in my life and going through severe depression and illness, I began to have doubts about my relationship with God.  Even though I knew that I knew it was real, it no longer felt real.  I prayed and I tried to read scripture, but I could not focus.  However, God in His marvelous mercy and grace continued to work in my life, until I could come to that place of true repentance for my doubt and lack of discipline.

I am far from perfect now, but God has refreshed my soul and my life.  I'm still ill, but I'm happy anyway.  I am filled with His precious peace.  Praise be to God.  Not only that, God has refilled me with a zeal for sharing His word and the message of Jesus Christ to the world.  Because of my illness, I have stopped long enough to answer His call to write.  I am filled with much joy and concern for other people to know Jesus as their Savior, to trust Him with every facet of their lives.  It is absolutely amazing what God does in the hearts and lives of those who  take up their crosses and follow Him.

^{2 Corinthians 7}

⁸ For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; 

though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow,

 though only for a while—

 ⁹ I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful,

 but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; 

for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, 

so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 

¹⁰ For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret,

 leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

 ¹¹ For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, 

has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear,

 what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong!

 "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
 Used by permission."