October 16, 2023
“Godly sadness causes us to turn away from our sins and be saved. And we are certainly not sorry about that! But worldly sadness brings death.” ~ 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIRV
I am sorry to say that I say “I’m sorry” far too frequently. I was recently startled when I said, “I’m sorry,” to someone I’d just met who confronted me in a very kind about my choice of words. She went on to explain that she had a similar problem, and a clerk in a store called her on it and suggested she apologize, rather than saying “sorry.” It hit me for that first time sometimes when I am saying “I’m sorry,” I actually telling myself that I am a sorry person. Do you sense the difference.
It’s one thing to express your sorrow over another person’s suffering or because you’ve wronged someone. I wonder if that is what Paul is talking about in 2 Corinthians 7:10. That kind of sorrow leads to restoration – which is a wonderful, grace-filled result.
I certainly have wronged people. Being sorry, and that sorrow motivated me to do my do my part to restore the relationship. And I am deeply sorry about the suffering in the Middle East right now, sorrowful to the point of tears.
Paul goes on to say that “worldly sorrow brings death.” I suspect that is the soul-sucking self-fulling repetition of being sorry, not so much for a wrong, but for anything and everything. A “sorry sister” I know reports saying “sorry” when she bumps into inanimate objects. It’s a slippery slope from “sorry” to getting to a place of believing you are of little worth. And that is simply not true. I am, you are, beloved children of God.
I must make a confession about saying “sorry.” And for this I truly am sorry. I realize that sometimes I have said “I’m sorry” as a way to ward off further important discussion that can lead to growth. In those circumstance, I’ve short-circuited an important process.
It’s never too late to grow, is it? Anne
Wayfinding 