For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation

without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

I Corinthians 7:10

So what is worldly grief that produces death? What is godly grief that leads to repentance?

An example of worldly grief can be seen in the life of Esau when he grieved because he had sold his birthright, “For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:17).  Worldly grief is incomplete and lacking because its’ source is not out of a conviction of sin. It is only concerned with the self-centered nature of the unsaved individual. So we see worldly grief is a grief for oneself that is centered on self.  This is not grief for sin against God. It grieves over consequences. It aches with embarrassment. It focuses on its own hurt. It is self-pitying.

Godly grief is a grief that comes from knowing that your actions are a result of sinning against a holy God. This is exactly what the Lord is talking about in the Beatitude, “Blessed are those who mourn.” Because those that mourn over their sin are acknowledging that they are sinning against God. That kind of grief is “blessed” because it drives us to God and to repentance.

As believers in Jesus Christ we have learned that godly grief in our children is necessary for salvation and ongoing

spiritual health. Sorrow is not enough. A child must own that his or her sin is against God and must be repentant before Him. We must never be fooled by tears because they often are tears of self-pity, anger or because one was caught: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death”.

Godly grief is then good grief.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark