Grief

 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.7.11.ESV

Here Paul unpacks the godly grief that leads to salvation, as opposed to the worldly sorrow that leads to death. Godly grief is of the Lord, not ourselves. Naturally, we're only sorry we got caught.

The Corinthians proved their godly grief by their earnestness to clear themselves from Paul's admonitions in his first letter. Before he wrote to them, they were justifying licentiousness. Upon receiving his rebukes they became indignant towards the wrongs they had done.

Fear isn't necessarily a bad thing, if it leads to faith in God. Fear shouldn't drive us cringing from God; but humbly to Him for healing. We should long for restoration with God.

We should be zealous, not in pursuing wrongdoing, but in making sure we're at peace with God. We shouldn't want any cloud of sin obscuring our relationship with Him. May God help us to truly repent of our sins, and trust in Him.

'Lord Almighty, our desire is that You would work genuine repentance in us, to the praise of Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen'

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