Godly Sorrow

Rev. J. den Hoed, Franklin Lakes, NJ

It is quite certain that, among my readers, there is no one who is not acquainted with sorrow. How many of us have wept tears because of an illness that has come in our home or because a loved one has been taken away. In addition to this, there is the sorrow which is carried in individual hearts that is unknown or unseen by others. The stark reality is that each home knows its own cross. The sorrows mentioned here, however, pertain only to life on earth. No matter how deeply they are experienced or felt, they last only a short time. When we leave the world, we will leave them all behind us.

In his message to the Corinthians, Paul does not speak of such sorrows. He speaks of a different type of sorrow which he calls a godly sorrow. It is possible that in this life we may have many sorrows but do not know this godly sorrow. Job was a man who lost much; yet he could agree with Elihu who said, “But none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?” (Job 35:10).

Dear reader, amidst all of the sorrows in this life, do you know of a godly sorrow? Perhaps you ask—what is that sorrow? It is the greatest blessing that we can receive in our lifetime between the cradle and the grave. It is the fruit of the new birth, that wonder of God’s grace wrought in the heart. It is a sorrow for which the world can give no comfort. It is a sorrow which produces broken hearts and tears that the Lord alone can dry. He comforts that sorrow with sweet tokens of His mercy and love for lost, wretched sinners.

It is a sorrow which has an address. There can be times when everything seems so dark and closed—times when the enemy of my soul roars in my heart, “Your sorrow is not a godly sorrow.” Yet, through all of these trials, there is only one place to which I can turn with the sorrow of my heart. That address is above the world in God’s heaven where the Lord in Christ is the only One who can give joy in place of sorrow. This sorrow is an emptiness which can be filled only when I may bring all of my needs and cares to Him who promised in His blessed Word, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That sorrow is not a desire for heaven but a deep longing for the God of heaven. Even if such a one were assured while lying on his deathbed approaching the shores of eternity that there would be no punishment for him, his sorrow would not be turned into joy. These people need not only a God with whom they can live but also a God with whom they can die. They want to go to heaven, not to escape the punishment of hell, but to be with the Lord for ever and ever. It is a sorrow which cannot let go of God but clings to His mercy seat, pleading for His grace.

Having written, with the help of the Lord, something of the nature of this godly sorrow, let me ask a question of you who are travelers upon life’s pathway, hastening onward to the end of your life. Please take the time to listen to my question. Do you personally know something of the sorrow which Paul calls a godly sorrow? There can be sorrow in the heart which appears to be godly sorrow. There are those who have a conscience burdened with the conviction of sin and a heart full of fear for death and eternity. When the love of God and for God is missing, however, it will all be too short for eternity.

Do you know of such a godly sorrow? With this question we do not ask how deeply you have been led in the way of conversion; we only ask about your heart. How is it in your heart? Is there a missing, a longing, not for the world but for one crumb of His grace, for one token of His love? Are there moments when you may spread out your empty hands and lift them up to heaven? Are there times when you may cling to the footstool of His grace to lay your simple petition before Him there, “Lord, help me”? It is possible that there are many questions and riddles in your heart for which you seek an answer. Such a soul is not a stranger of the sorrow mentioned in our text. Such souls are never more than beggars, but the Lord loves those beggars.

What is the effect of such a sorrow? Notice that the Apostle Paul says that such sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. Thus, between this sorrow and salvation, the Word of God places the way of conversion. In this sorrow there is repentance not to be repented of, meaning, there is an ongoing repentance. No, salvation does not precede repentance. Even if such a person would never receive what his heart is longing for from the Lord, he can never again return to his former life. God’s children do not say that they no longer sin; on the contrary they must so often be disappointed with all that is of self. Then, by the grace of God, sin becomes a sorrow that goes continually deeper. In the morning they beg the Lord, “Keep me near Thy side,” but how often in the evening they must come with the same burden. Then they again long to lift up their hearts with their hands to ask, “Lord, where must I go if I cannot bring my burdens to Thee?”

Dear reader, what is the effect of such a godly sorrow? They will sow with tears, for what else is this world but a valley of tears? The Lord has promised, however, that they shall reap with joy. This is not understood by the world. Even much of the religious world of our time does not understand it. That sorrow drives the child of God upon his knees, pleading for the blood of Christ, knowing that only that blood gate gives entrance unto the heart of the Father. It begs for that prepared garment that it may clothe and cover all of the sorrow and turn it into the heavenly joy made ready and laid away for wretched sinners. These sinners may, at the end of their earthly journey, begin the eternal joy where all honor and glory will be given to the

King who, here below, awakened that sorrow in their hearts, a sorrow which worketh repentance not to be repented of; for all such sorrowing ones there is a future laid away in heaven. Here the journey is never easy, but keep courage, sorrowing ones, for your King has promised that one day your homecoming will be unto salvation.

Dear reader, in closing, let me ask you one more question. Where will you spend eternity? It is a question which needs an answer, today. Oh, bow your knees and beg the Lord to lay an answer to this question in your heart.

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