The Change Sorrow Brings

"Never waste the opportunities offered by a good crisis."

-Machiavelli, 15th century philosopher

That is a powerful quote from an old political hand, a schemer some would say, whose name has become synonymous with the astute if ruthless exercise of raw political power. Most recently it has been quoted by Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's Chief of Staff, about the financial crisis that has dominated Obama's first term as president. When he said it people flipped out. How could he be so callous about a disaster that is affecting so many people? Could he really look at something that has been so disastrous to people all across America as a good thing?

I won't speak to Rahm Emanuel's motives or meaning when he quoted Machiavelli, but I will echo the sentiment. In fact, the Bible agrees with this statement. Around 57 AD, the apostle Paul wrote a pretty scathing letter to a church in Corinth, Greece. The Corinthian church started well but had become divided by sin, pride and misunderstanding of key doctrines. In short, the church at Corinth was an ugly, disastrous mess, and Paul addressed these problems head on. Paul's letter to the church that he loved was so confrontational that he actually had second thoughts about sending it.

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.

2 Corinthians 7:8

What comes next is a statement equal to that of Rahm Emanuel and Machiavelli, the apostle Paul's understanding of the power of a good crisis.

Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Paul is talking specifically about the sorrow he caused the Corinthian church with a letter that ripped them up and down about their behavior and attitudes. It hurt them. They changed.

Sorrow is universal. There are things that everyone will face, struggle with and be hurt by in this life. But God in his infinite wisdom and love for us recognizes that when we face sorrow, it is an opportunity for us to grow and become better. There is a kind of sorrow that God wants us to have so that we will turn to him more and more. Sorrow may hurt us, but we will change. Getting fired from your job. Losing a dear friend. Having a financial meltdown. Starting over with nothing. Facing the destruction of your marriage. Living through your parent's divorce. These things can cause great pain and sorrow in our lives. But when we turn to God in our sadness and allow him to bring healing and restoration, the Bible promises that we will never regret that kind of sorrow. When we turn to him, he will never waste a hurt. Has God used the painful circumstances of your past to change you? Is there sorrow in your life that you are allowing to be wasted?