Perhaps one of the most difficult things we will ever learn to do is cultivate a self-awareness that is brutally honest. Many of us have a difficult time looking in a mirror with courage and raw vulnerability. We don’t want to know our failings; we don’t want to admit we are wrong. But when we are willing and capable of candid self-examination, we have taken the first step toward healing and repentance (in the truest definition of repentance – to turn around).

In my adult life I worked for many bosses. From the first boss to the last boss I repeatedly found myself at odds with all of them. For decades I lamented that I had the worst bosses ever. Every single one was arrogant, demanding, and unwilling to see my potential. After I left the last boss I had before starting my own business, I was suddenly blindsided with a painful truth: the only common denominator in all of these broken relationships was – me. I took a long, hard look at myself. The work I had done, the work I had failed to do, my own attitude, and my constant fear of failure had all contributed to years of heartache and shame. It took a long time, but I was finally able to forgive myself for my failings and learn from my mistakes. The community in Corinth, due to a harsh, reprimanding letter by Paul, had to do the same. Both they and I grew from our experiences, and the end result of self-examination, honesty, and repentance is joy.

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter.

So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. In this we find comfort. In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you. For if I have been somewhat boastful about you to him, I was not disgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well. And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.