What's the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow? These phrases come up in 2 Corinthians, that letter, and worldly sorrow is really primarily a regret over the consequences of sin perhaps including, not always, but including the idea of sadness at being caught in sin or to be known as sinful by others, a regret of the pains perhaps even, and the suffering, the difficulties that have come upon myself and others due to sin. Godly sorrow would really hate sin for what it is. Hate sin as sin. Hate sin for the defiance that it is towards God.

The completely uncalled for rebellion against a good and a gracious God that it consists of. And a godly sorrow is grieved that I have rebelled against God despite his massive graciousness towards me and that I want to turn back towards him and not merely forsake the sins themselves for as though that were an end in itself, but to forsake those sins in order to live unto God.