It’s good to have godly sorrow. In fact, believers should naturally and eagerly trade their joy and laughter for it, should it come. That’s because when it does, it’s due to an acknowledgement that an offense, a sin, has been committed against God.

Embrace this sadness, knowing that it is a developmental step in our sanctification. I believe that this why James encouraged us to “Grieve, mourn, and wail.” He knew what godly sorrow would bring about — clean hands and a pure heart (James 4: 8, 9).

That this is so; that godly sorrow is a detergent and a motivator, is further delineated in these words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 7: 10, 11 — “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.”

Wow! How exhilarating is that? Let there be tears of grief when one sins. Through those tears will be seen a vision and a felt, determined passion to get back on course. Godly sorrow is also a remembrance of why the course was taken in the first place — to stop doing evil; to become a clean slate; to learn godly righteousness (Isaiah 1: 16). Moreover, one assuredly knows that God is willing to help in our repentance and salvation.

Be of good cheer! Godly sorrow convicts the heart.