Jim exemplified the sorrow of the world through his repeated expressions of remorse that failed to bring about any change in his behavior. Despite accumulating 75 speeding tickets by his early twenties, Jim's displays of remorse convinced judges to let him retain his license, showcasing worldly sorrow that lacked true repentance. After a street fight at age 18 led to his arrest and a night in jail, he felt deep sorrow for the inconvenience caused to his parents who bailed him out, yet this did not alter his actions. His drinking problem fueled aggressive and violent behavior, and though he expressed remorse to his friends once sober, his regret did not prevent recurrence. A severe car accident, where he drove recklessly in his Triumph Spitfire and caused injury to a friend, left him in tears and remorseful, but he returned to dangerous driving soon after. Even in prison, where he felt sorry for the loss of freedom and the embarrassment of incarceration, Jim's sorrow did not lead to personal transformation; it only deepened as his life worsened. The sorrow of the world, as seen in Jim's life, arises not from the recognition of sin itself but from the consequences it brings. This type of sorrow may stem from loss, disappointment, shame, or disgrace, such as a person feeling regret for a crime like forgery or perjury when it impacts their family or lands them in jail. Yet, without leading to genuine repentance, this remains worldly sorrow, driving individuals back to their previous behaviors without seeking true change.

Human beings are full of sin, and our natures compel us away from the path that God has revealed to lead to the Kingdom of God. True repentance involves pain, particularly emotional pain, as it is wrenching to the psyche and really hurts because it is difficult to do. Oftentimes, changing ingrained attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that have set hard like concrete in our lives is a bitter pill to swallow. From this, we can conclude that any repentance that comes easily is probably not true repentance. If we have not felt some measure of pain in repenting, it is likely that we have not seen the depths of our sinful ways. The Hebrew word naham, meaning to be sorry or to rue, conveys an aspect of repentance with a strong emotional character. The essence of naham lies in the action of breathing strongly, often displayed when something has gone wrong and a person is sorry for it. In his regret, he may try to control his emotions by taking deep breaths that may descend into sobbing or even painful wails of remorse. Nevertheless, true repentance is not an entirely emotional experience; it is not just feeling sorry or an emotional outburst about something one regrets. Repentance does include regret, but it must produce other qualities to complete the process.

God has mercifully provided us with the capacity to feel spiritual pain, akin to physical pain, which serves as a warning and guide for our behavior. This spiritual pain, often experienced as guilt, acts as a moral governor, inflicting discomfort for wrong actions and offering joy for right ones. Without this capacity, we would stray hopelessly off course, unable to correct our path. Guilt drives us to seek spiritual remedy, much like physical pain prompts us to address bodily harm. The failure to feel remorse or guilt marks a grave flaw, seen in those who commit vile acts without contrition. Repeatedly ignoring or masking this spiritual pain can lead to a seared conscience, rendering a person incapable of change. Such a state represents the ultimate consequence of rejecting divine guidance, where one becomes abandoned to a debased mind, no longer responsive to the warnings of guilt. We must be grateful for this capacity to feel spiritual pain, as it motivates us to Ascertain and rectify the sins that cause such pain, guiding us toward vibrant spiritual health.