You don’t like to feel bad. We are "feel good" sort of people. We arrange our lives so we can feel good. When things make us feel bad, we look for something to make us feel good again. Sometimes the things people use to feel better become addictions that make them feel worse. For all our efforts, sometimes we just feel bad, and we don’t like it

What if I told you that feeling bad can be a good thing. God says there is a sorrow that leads to salvation. If you have to endure sorrow—and you do—you want this type of sorrow, which the apostle calls godly sorrow. There is another type—worldly sorrow—that brings death. That is the kind you want to avoid.

Paul’s letters to the Corinthians contained instruction and rebuke. Both were given in love, for these were his children in the Lord. They needed to know how to live rich lives of faith and be encouraged in Christ, so he instructed them. They also needed to be corrected because of their conduct that worked against the gospel. This required a rebuke.

No one likes to receive a rebuke. The Corinthians were upset by stern words from their spiritual father. They felt bad, in the same way we would when someone has pointed out our sin to us. But Paul calls describes their sorrow as a good thing. It was godly sorrow that brings repentance and salvation with no regret. Godly sorrow is part of true repentance.

What type of sorrow do you have when you discover sin in your heart? You do not want to have the worldly sorrow, which brings death. This type of sorrow is common and takes many forms.

Worldly sorrow may bring denial and even attack the person who pointed out the sin. No one likes to think that they have done wrong. When your sin is shown to you, do you deny it? If someone was offended by what you said, is it "just their problem" (sometimes people will take offence when there is none there). Do you attack the person who brought you the news, changing the subject to their faults and sins? This is a reaction to the sorrow of sin, but it is not a godly reaction and it does not solve the problem that caused the trouble.

Another response of worldly sorrow is to regret the results of the sin, but not the sin itself. You have done something that hurt someone you love. It is hard to face that you have done something wrong and you don’t want to think about it. But you do want to smooth things over with your loved one. So you quickly say, "I’m sorry," hoping to make the whole incident go away as quickly as possible. This is not godly sorrow.

If you are sorry only for the result of your sin, or that you got caught, then you do not have godly sorrow. If your rush to make amends stops you from looking at your heart and the cause of your sin, then you are holding the sin tighter to your soul.

Worldly sorrow can go deeper, realizing with horror that it was your sin that caused the hurt. You can grieve not only the affect your sin, but the fact that you were the one to do it. You can ache over what you have done and try to make all amends possible in order to separate you from your sin and guilt. Even this may not be godly sorrow. Does this not describe Judas after he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver?

Judas grieved. Judas took the money back to the priests. When they did not take it, he threw it at them because he did not want this sin to remain with him. Judas’s sorrow was so severe that it led to despair and suicide. This was worldly sorrow that brings death.

Peter also betrayed his master that night—three times. Peter was overcome with sorrow over his sin and wept bitterly. But Peter was restored and became a great apostle while Judas killed himself. What was the difference? Peter had godly sorrow that brings repentance and salvation with no regret.

Peter knew he could not make amends for his betrayal, but he remained with the disciples and was forgiven by the risen Lord. Later, on the shores of Galilee, Jesus restored him to ministry. A key part of repentance that comes from godly sorrow is that it leads us to the Savior. Judas tried to fix things by himself and failed. He went to the priests, not to Jesus. Worldly sorrow refuses all help, determined to solve the problem and end the pain through self-effort alone.

There are things we can do to make amends for our sins against other people, but they will not be enough. If you fill your neighbor’s fence with nails, it would be good to remove the nails, but you will have left holes in the wood. You are unable to fill some of the "holes" you make in other’s lives. For full forgiveness and healing you need the Savior.

Is there an event, a relationship in your life causing you sorrow? Are you refusing to accept help that God may be sending you through others? Turn to the Savior. Lay your sorrowful burden on him. He will forgive you and restore you. Christ will change you as he changed Peter. Your godly sorrow will bring real repentance that leads to salvation with no regret.