Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation
Scripture reference
2 Corinthians 7:9–11 (ASV)
9I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, a repentance which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.
Stories
A woman who had earlier surrendered her life to Christ succumbed to pressure from unbelievers around her, and she became a backslider. The Lord used an illness to chasten and rebuke her. She repented of her sin and returned to fellowship with believers.
Thomas Walker testifies of the remarkable peace and joy that obtaining God's forgiveness brought upon his miserable soul.
In the course of a prayer meeting with schoolboys, the Spirit of God moved; causing the boys to weep aloud and pound their desks. Then they began to go to one other, confessing specific sins and seeking forgiveness.
Danish missionary, Miss Anna Christiansen, preached on sin, righteousness, and judgement. Her message was used powerfully by the Holy Spirit, and “great fear came upon the while church,” as in Acts 5:11. Many confessed their sins, repented and found the new birth.
Titus Coan depended only on God's Spirit to bring home the words whenever he preached. And the Gospel he declared wrought changes in the hearts and lives of those who listened; sins were confessed, quarrels reconciled, idolatry renounced and God's cause; greatly advanced.
Upon entering an exhibition hall in Canada, a sailor saw a painting of Christ hanging on the wall. He could not move away from that painting. Right there in that hall, he decided to follow Christ.
The children of Captain Lowe surrendered their life to Christ after a few weeks of attending church. Their mother soon made the decision herself. The father refused to give in and did all he could to avoid the decision, but his children would not give it up. They kept praying for him until one day; he gave in; with tears in his years, he confessed, "I am a poor, lost sinner!". That day the whole family joined together to rejoice in God for their father's life.