Receiving the Lord’s Discipline

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? – Hebrews 12:7

Like a loving father who corrects his children for their good, our loving heavenly Father uses difficult circumstances, conviction, and trials to shape us into the men and women He has called us to be. Our natural response to these challenges may be frustration, discouragement, or resentment. But Scripture calls us to “endure” discipline and to “submit” to our Lord. When facing discipline, we should first remember His love for us. He does not punish us as an angry judge or overly strict schoolmaster. Rather, he trains us as His children. Second, we should examine our hearts to determine what our Lord may be teaching us about our sin, our priorities, and our dependence upon Him. Third, we should trust His purpose, even when we do not fully understand what He is doing in our lives. He has good and glorious purposes in mind for all that He does. 

This is exactly what we’ve seen in the early chapters of Deuteronomy, where God disciplined Israel for their disobedient refusal to enter the Promised Land at Kadesh Barnea. Sure, there were times of joy during their forty-year journey in the wilderness, and certainly there were moments of clarity for them along the way. However, confusion, brokenness, and frustration outweighed the moments of joy and clarity. They didn’t understand what God was doing among them. But their journey afforded them the opportunity to learn about God’s love, examine their hearts, and learn to trust His purpose. Like Israel, we are to learn to resist the temptation to become bitter toward God and to assume that every hardship is a direct punishment for a particular sin. Instead, we can receive every circumstance from the hand of our loving Father, trusting His providence and goodness. So, when discipline comes, remember His love, receive His correction, submit to His training, and pursue the holiness he is producing in you. Our goal is not to survive difficult circumstances but to become more Christlike through them. 

Suggested Scripture Readings: 

• Romans 5:1–8 
• 1 Peter 1:3-12

Questions for Reflection:

1. How do I typically respond when the Lord disciplines or corrects me—through His Word, circumstances, or the counsel of others?
2. What might the Lord be teaching me through a present difficulty, and how can I respond with greater trust, submission, and obedience?