TEXT TO REFLECT ON
So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. Therefore we are comforted.
2 CORINTHIANS 7:12-13
REFLECT
Good grief! Grief that is a blessing. This was what Paul was writing about. In his earlier letter to the Corinthians, Paul severely castigated the Christians in Corinth about their lax attitude toward sexual immorality among them. Paul’s strong rebuke caused the Christians to repent and take serious action, resulting in the offending parties turning away from their sin. While Paul felt sad that he had inflicted much pain on the church by so severely scolding them, he was heartened by their godly response. Indeed, they had grieved over his rebuke, but their grief had led to repentance rather than resentment.
What heartened Paul most however, was that the Corinthian Christians’ grief had revealed to them the state of their spirituality – that they earnestly loved Paul and loved God. This meant the most to Paul: that their grief was evidence to them of how they regarded God and the ways of God. And such a revelation of the state of their hearts was a great encouragement to them, enabling them to see how much they loved God.
Grief is an important barometer of the state of our souls. We often live superficially, preferring to project images of self-confidence and competence. We act tough. We act smart. We act as if we have everything under our control. And sometimes we act so well, we begin to believe that our fake toughness and smartness and sense of control are real. And there is nothing as powerful as grief that brings us back to reality. Because grief reveals our utter helplessness, and forces us to face ourselves. And how we react when confronted with our true selves will reveal the state of our souls.
The Corinthian Christians had not only condoned the act of sexual immorality among them, but had taken pride in their sense of freedom (1 Corinthians 5:2). They had deceived themselves into thinking that they were progressive and that their condoning such acts proved their strong spirituality. Paul’s fierce rebuke brought them back to reality as they realised how they had transgressed. And they grieved. Such grief showed that their hearts were tender towards God and towards Paul, who was their spiritual father.
RELATE
Grief is one of the most common emotions that we encounter. We grieve when we lose someone or something important to us. We grieve when a precious relationship is severed. We grieve when we are hurt.
Grief reveals whether we have hope or whether we have lost hope. In Psalm 43:5, King David asks his soul rhetorically:
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
David realized that his grief was an indication that he was being overwhelmed by the power of his enemies. Having been thus alerted, he quickly reminded himself that God would eventually vindicate him. Grief was a wake-up call to him to turn to God for refuge.
When we next grieve, take a moment to ask yourself and to ask God, “Why am I grieving?” The answer may help us to know what needs to be done.
REST
Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul; when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the veil of tears,
then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul; the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Be Still My Soul by Kathrina Von Schlegel 1752, translated Jane Borthwick 1855
Chiu Ming Li
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