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Day 129 2 Corinthians 7:5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside there were conflicts, inside there were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. 13 Therefore, we have been comforted in your comfort. We rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 His affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore, I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything. People have many regrets in life. They pour out their sorrows to anyone who will listen to them. They see their regrets as failures. Paul told the Corinthians; he regretted the sorrow his letters brought them. However, he rejoiced in their sorrow because it led to their repentance. God comforted him when Titus arrived with news from them because he also found comfort from them. Unlike the sorrow of the world which leads to death, godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation. Therefore, there was no reason for regret but rejoicing. He told them his letter brought diligence to clear themselves of indignation, fear, desire, zeal, and vindication. His letter showed them how much he cared about them. Therefore, he was not ashamed of his boast to Titus about them. Titus’ affections for them were greater because he remembered their obedience and how they received him with fear and trembling. Paul rejoiced because of his confidence in them in everything. Many times, as Christians, you regret an action you must make, but you make it hoping it won’t backfire on you, but it will cause a reaction you hope for, one that will bring about repentance in a bad situation. When it does you can rejoice in your action to the person you confronted. Not only does the person repent, but the person also knows how much you care about him to bring the matter to his attention. Then both he and you find comfort in his repentance. What confrontation faces you? Do you regret you need to have the confrontation? What do you hope for in the confrontation? Before you confront anyone, pray. Pray for God’s leading in what you are about to do. Even as you regret what you must do, rejoice for the outcome. Then when God brings about the reconciliation, rejoice because repentance and salvation came to the person. It might seem like regret, but in reality, it’s comfort, knowing God is working on the heart of the person you confronted. Let God work everything out and rejoice with the person who found joy in the Lord and his salvation. Let’s pray: Father, I have many regrets because I didn’t confront with prayer for Your guidance in bad situations. Help me seek You first in prayer before I confront anyone so they will know how much I care about them and rejoice in the reconciliation You bring about. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 22 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.