I'm Glad You're Sad

I'm glad you're sad 2 Corinthians 7:9 Yet now i'm happy, not because you were made sorry but because your sorrow led you to repentance. for you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

I've seen so many people miss an opportunity to help someone because they didn't want to hurt their feelings by telling them the truth. We don't want to make people sad or not like us, so often times we withhold truth because of the fear of making that person sad at the new information. When you see someone you are in relationship with doing something that could be detrimental to their future you owe it to them to speak truth in love even if they are saddened temporarily. Temporary sadness is worth it if we can help people live better lives in the long run.

The Apostle Paul had to write a letter to the church in Corinth about a man in the church who had been sleeping with his father's wife. The people in church knew about it but didn't 'say anything to the man. Paul told them to put him out in hopes that it would sober him up so he could come back to Jesus. This "Letter" Paul wrote, hurt the feelings of the church members in Corinth but Paul said, "i'm glad I made you sorrowful," because their "Godly" sorrow led to repentance. They had "Godly" sorrow.

There's a difference between "Godly" sorrow and "wordly" sorrow:

Worldly sorrow leads to death. It's Ego based. the truth is a threat to the way you see yourself. Often when the ego get's in the way, people run from the truth. Avoiding the truth leads to death. when you know the truth, the truth will set you free. Knowing requires intimacy. Intimacy requires trust. When you are in a relationship with somebody that trusts you, you owe it to them to speak truth but if they are "Worldly" chances are you will not make it past their ego.

Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation. This is when you are convicted in your Spirit by the truth someone shares. You see it as something that can make you better. When people share truth in Love you use a Spiritual filter that uses the T.H.I.N.K. model:

T. is it true. Is the informational that they are sharing with you factual?

H. is it helpful? Will this information help you to be a better person?

I. is it Inspirational? Is this information grounded in the word of God? Is it Godly?

N. is it Needed? Is this information that is revelational? Will it enhance my perspective?

K. is it Kind? Did they share it from a heartfelt place? What comes from the heart reaches the heart.

Paul said that writing the sorrowful letter (the truth) hurt for a little while but it had its intended result....repentance. Repentance means to turn from a direction of destruction and turning in the direction of salvation. Don't be afraid to cause temporary sorrow for long-term joy. Speak truth in Love. It may cause temporary sorrow but if they love you and you love them, they will thank you later.

Dear God,

Help me to share and receive truth. Give me the ability to press through the uncomfortableness of temporary discomfort for the benefit of long term salvation. Thank you for your letters that have kept me on the right road and heading in a New Direction.

In Jesus Name,
Amen