Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. (2 Corinthians 7:10–11, NIV 1984).
My Musings – To me, the thrust of this passage is that “Godly sorrow…leaves no regret,” because of what it produces in our lives. Just look at the things mentioned in the text. I am convinced that whatever God can produce in our life without sorrow, He will do so. And that includes repentance. But there are times when more extreme measures are necessary. These are instances of “severe mercy.”
Anyone who has been a parent or grandparent understands the saying “it’s for your own good.” As well as another old saying, which I think applies to God as well, “this is going to hurt me more than it does you.” “Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.” (Deuteronomy 8:4–5, NIV 1984). For our own good, and it hurts God to have to use severe mercies.
My Advice – My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? (Hebrews 12:5-7, NIV 1984).
It would be a mistake to “make light of the Lord’s discipline.” That is to say to be dismissive of it or not take it to heart and miss out on what “Godly sorrow [could have] produced in [us.].“
The Brew Is A Musing 