Wisdom for When We Excessively Grieve Over Sin

October 2nd, 2024
by Richard Sibbes1

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.—Psa. 51:4

When grieving for our sin becomes too much.
(1) Excessive grieving for our sin is wrong when it takes the soul from minding what it should and distracts us from the duties of our callings. Christ upon the cross was grieved to the utmost, yet it did not take away his care for his mother (John 19:26, 27). At times the grieving may be so extreme that all we can do is quietly submit to God and desire to be carried unto Christ by the prayers of others.
(2) We grieve over sin to an extreme when we forget the grounds of comfort and allow our mind to run only upon the present transgression. It is a sin to dwell on sin and turmoil our thoughts about it when we are called to be thankful for our forgiveness in Christ. Grief for sin often comes upon us during seasons when we should be expressing joy. God has made some days for joy, and joy is the proper work of those days. 'This is the day which the Lord has made' (Psa. 118:24). Some in a sick distemper desire that which increases their sickness; so some that are deeply cast down, desire whatever may cast them down more, when what they should do is meditate upon comforts, and get some sweet assurance of God's love. Joy is the constant temper which the soul should be in. 'Rejoice evermore' (1 Thess. 5:16). We should think of such truths as may raise up the soul and sweeten the spirit.
(3) We grieve too much when it inclines the soul to inconvenient courses. Excessive grief over sin is a poor counsellor, when either it hurts the health of our bodies, or draws the soul to ease itself by some unlawful liberty. When grief keeps such a noise in the soul, it doesn't allow the soul to hear what the messengers of God, or the still voice of the Spirit says.
As in explosions, loud cries are scarce heard, so in such cases the soul will neither hear itself nor others. The fruit of this overmuch trouble of spirit is increase of trouble.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, pp. 156-57
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