8/11 2 Corinthians 7:10

¹⁰ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

In a commentary on Isaiah in the Preaching the Word series by Raymond Ortland Jr., he wrote the following on the good effects of conviction:

What is conviction of sin? It is not an oppressive spirit of uncertainty or paralyzing guilt feelings. Conviction of sin is the lance of the divine Surgeon piercing the infected soul, releasing the pressure, letting the infection pour out. Conviction of sin is a health-giving injury. Conviction of sin is the Holy Spirit being kind to us by confronting us with the light we don't want to see and the truth we're afraid to admit and the guilt we prefer to ignore. Conviction of sin is the severe love of God overruling our compulsive dishonesty, our willful blindness, our favorite excuses. Conviction of sin is the violent sweetness of God opposing the sins lying comfortably undisturbed in our lives. Conviction of sin is the merciful God declaring war on the false peace we settle for. Conviction of sin is our escape from malaise to joy, from attending church to worship, from faking it to authenticity. Conviction of sin, with the forgiveness of Jesus pouring over our wounds, is life.

Worldly grief, on the other hand, produces death. As we dwell on our loss or pain, we sink into an ever-deepening canyon of despair. If we will not shake ourselves out of it and look for the good, trusting in God for better days ahead, depression sets in. Then it becomes even harder to rouse ourselves to climb out of the darkness of despair into the light.

Consider: We see two sorrows with opposite effects in our lives. One is from God to cause us to be whole. The other is of the world and refuses to trust or hope in God. Know the difference. Welcome the former and refuse to stay in the latter.