Read: Lamentations 3:37-51
Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! (v. 40)
The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret” (2 Cor. 7:10 NIV). Not all suffering is a direct result of sin, but God often uses the sorrow in our lives to draw us back to his arms. It’s natural to cry out to God when we’re in pain, and this can lead to repentance and restoration.
As we continue through Lamentations 3, Jeremiah writes as a man who was devastated by the destruction of his city. “My eyes will flow without ceasing” (v. 49), he tells us—especially when he considered the cruelty inflicted on the women of Jerusalem. Jeremiah knew that, while these things were brought about by the Lord’s command (v. 37), it was judgment because of the people’s sin. How could anyone complain about the punishment for their own sins (v. 39)? He called on his fellow countrymen to repent, to “lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven” (v. 41). When God “looks down and sees” (v. 50), that would be the beginning of the end of sorrow and the path to healing. That was the path back to God.
Jeremiah has shown us what it means to suffer affliction, but he’s also reminded us that this is the time to draw near to God in repentance, seeking forgiveness. Godly sorrow can lead us to salvation, and God will forgive and heal as he draws close to the brokenhearted.
As you pray, remember that godly sorrow leads to repentance.
Laura N. Sweet is a wife, mother, grandmother, and former Christian school teacher from Midland, Michigan. She writes devotional material for both adults and children, and her work has appeared in more than a dozen publications.
