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 sorry brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but worldly sorry brings death. (NIV)

“You need to break up with him,” my friend said. Um, excuse me? I thought to myself. My prayer partner, a grad student, while I, a mere freshman in college, was only giving me the truth. She, a seasoned follower of Jesus, was gently reminding me of the hardships of growing in my faith while dating someone who was not a Christian. It was the kind of truth you know to be right deep down, but like an alarm clock in the morning, it's just easier to hit the snooze button.  

‍

You know the saying: the truth hurts. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church speaks directly to the people’s sin and immoral living. Paul didn’t shy away from admonishing and addressing each issue head on. However, out of his love and compassion for this eclectic church, Paul worried how his letter might be received.    

‍

While his letter did cause emotional suffering, in Scripture we see how their suffering produced repentance that drew them nearer to God (v. 10). Not only did God turn their hurt into healing, but we also see that Paul is even more encouraged and overjoyed that God’s truth leads to life.

So, what did I do with my friend’s advice? I wrestled with it. I sat with it. And in the end, I wasn’t able to have peace in my soul until I broke things off. My friend loved me enough to point me to truth in Scripture, and I’m so thankful for her rebuke because I know she saved me a lot of heartache in the end.  

‍

So how do you react when someone shares truth that seems to wound? Or are you the one to not share the truth for fear of causing such a wound? I tend to overreact when truth hits hard and deep. On the other hand, I also sometimes underreact, not wanting to share the truth for fear of discomfort. Neither of these reactions lead me or others nearer to the Lord. Paul reminds us that Godly sorrow brings repentance and repentance brings forgiveness and healing.  

‍

I still struggle with sharing the truth in love, and I still struggle with receiving truth with grace. But I know the Lord is working in my heart to show me that I can trust him with his truth, and that I am to love him more than I love my own pride or sin.  

‍

There is a nearness with the Lord when you share his truth, and there is a pocket of grace in which to sit when someone shares hard truth with you. Praise God for his loving kindness, that repentance can bring you deeper into awestruck love for the One who forgives.

Lord, I praise you, that in Christ Jesus, you don’t count our sin against us, that you desire mercy and give grace when we don’t deserve it. Jesus, I praise you that you are the perfect God who is full of grace and truth, and that your truth brings life. Show me Lord, where I am hesitant to share truth that can bring healing to others. Reveal to me how I can let your truth pierce my own heart and bring me to step into repentance. Holy Spirit, show me how you can turn my hurt into healing. Amen.