The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

—2 Corinthians 7:10

It’s sometimes difficult to discern between godly grief over our sin versus shame and accusation from the devil. The proof is in the fruit it’s producing.

Does it have us paralyzed in shame or turning away from our sin in repentance? Does it have us wallowing over past regrets or diving further into Christ because we recognize the depth of our need for him? Does it keep us from stepping out in God’s plan for us because we’re not worthy, or does it have us so grateful for God’s forgiveness and grace that we step out because we know his strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)? Does it have us constantly thinking about ourselves, or does it have us turning our eyes to Christ?

For years, I felt most disillusioned with God when I failed at following him well. He finally revealed that if my own failures led me to doubt him, I wasn’t really trusting him to begin with; I was trusting myself.

Our sin should frustrate us, but it should not send us away from God or turn us toward obsessing over our own failure.

If it pushes us into despair over sins we have turned away from, it’s accusation. If it pushes us toward righteousness, repentance, and Christ, it’s godly grief and conviction.

Jesus knew Peter would fail and told him, “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).

Our first step after we fail is to turn back to Christ. Our second step is to encourage those around us who might be wallowing in their own failure.

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