Run or Fight?

The sermon I attended last weekend spoke a really strong message to me, and it was about grief and repentance.   2 Corinthians 6: 8-11 says,


“Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it.  Though I did regret it- I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while- yet now, I am 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.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 

So eye opening.  We all hear about repenting and we think, “Okay, I need to be sorry. I need to ask for forgiveness…” Yes, and no.  Yes because that’s part of it, but no because that’s not all.  You can say sorry a million times and keep going back to destructive behavior.

Our pastor talked about how in life, we are usually taught that in the face of adversity, we do one of two things: run or fight.   We often do this with God….we get upset or scared and we turn our backs to him.  But God gives us another option, to repent.   He asks for change- but in the form of turning from our sins, not just saying we are sorry for them, or for the consequences of them, or for the bad feelings they cause….but because they are wrong.  Whatever you sin may be…..do you turn angry when you’re hurt? Do you lie when you don’t have the courage to be honest?  Do you point the finger at others instead of taking accountability for yourself?  Or maybe you turn to substance.  Or sex... In your sorrow, turn from those things and instead turn to God.  Turn to God, ask for forgiveness, and lean on HIM for that comfort, instead of that THING.  The verse above tells us, grieve your sin, and He will be with you. .  Notice that it doesn’t say, grieve your sin, and fix yourself.  He will show you the way

This made me ask myself how I ask for forgiveness.  Is it genuine? Is it because I know what I do is wrong, or is it because I am tired of the consequences instead of the sin itself?  Do I just say sorry but not truly seek God to change my ways instead of continuing to the alternatives? 

Thankful for this time to reevaluate.