For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 

Paul had feelings! He wasn’t made of steel.

He had written a ‘painful’ letter to the Corinthians regarding a matter of church discipline. Sometimes hard things have to be said (and done) to be able to restore godly order to a church – or to an individual life.

But Paul did not revel in confrontation; he didn’t enjoy rebuking. This cost him something. He regretted having to do it. He had a tender, pastoral heart.

Yet at the same time, he didn’t regret it because the church responded well. He saw that the unpleasant tasting medicine had a healing effect.

 I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don’t feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. The Message.

When church leaders have to be involved in a disciplinary process, all-be-it reluctantly, they can’t always explain everything to everyone. We need to understand that they are human too, and probably have hurting hearts. They will be paying a price. They carry burdens we may nothing about.

So let us pray for them.