God's Discipline, Pain That Is Good for the Soul

A life filled with challenges and trials can sometimes make the soul ache. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the business you spent years building to decline drastically, or made you lose your job. The woman whom you hoped would become your life partner turned out to come to church with another man. Your family looks at you with suspicion, or opposes your life choices. A coworker slanders you before your boss.

so you begin to wonder, why is life so hard? Why do your days seem to contain only bad news? In the end, you fall into self-pity, then dwell on the past and conclude: God is not good. Everything you want must be gained through toil and pain.

But, is that really true? How should believers respond to life's challenges that feel painful?

Pain Will Turn Into Joy

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. – Psalm 126:5

Thepsalmist says that what we sow with tears will one day be reaped with shouts of joy. So, if right now you are feeling much pain, shedding many tears, do not quickly lose heart, much less be discouraged.

One of my favorite quotes says, “Everything in life is only temporary. If everything is going well, enjoy it, because it will not last forever. And if bad things happen, do not worry, because they too will not last forever.”

The troubles you are experiencing right now are not the end of everything. This is only a beginning. God is not finished with you. One day, if you remain steadfast, you will reap the results with shouts of joy, just as He promised.

God's Discipline, the Relationship of Father and Child

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not regard lightly the Lord's discipline, nor lose heart when you are reproved by Him; for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” – Hebrews 12:5-6

The trials or challenges we face may be beyond our control, but how we respond to them is our own choice . Why is this mindset important for us to have?

The verse above makes it clear that if God does not discipline you, you are not His legitimate child. If you are not His legitimate child, you inherit nothing. Only when you become His legitimate child are you entitled to inherit what God has, namely the kingdom of heaven.

When my child was little, he once had a cough, yet still wanted to eat ice cream and candy. Of course I forbade it, even though my child cried and whined. If I love my child , would I give whatever he wanted just because I felt sorry for him? Of course not, right?

Even though my heart hurt to see him cry, I would not give him what he asked for. Not because I hated my child, but because I loved him and wanted what was best for him.

The same is true when your life feels painful; trials come one after another, challenge after challenge stands in your way without ceasing. All of that happens not because God rejects or hates you, but is proof of His love for you. He wants you, one day, to be worthy to receive His promises.

The Lord's Discipline Is Perfect

Furthermore, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. – Hebrews 12:9-10

The most important thing you must have when God disciplines you is your attitude in responding to it. By refusing it or hardening your heart, you will lose the essence of the Lord's discipline for you.

If the imperfect discipline of a father toward his child can bring good, how much more the discipline of our Father in heaven! Our fathers on earth discipline their children so that we will be ready to face the world. But our Father in heaven disciplines us so that we will be ready to enter eternity!

Now, do not be brokenhearted anymore, despair, much less give up in your present circumstances. Perhaps God is disciplining you so that you may become a better person. One who depends more on Him, more faithful, more patient, and more draw on God's strength than your own strength. Let us say to our Father in heaven:

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground! – Psalm 143:10

God bless!

Related Articles:

• “I Am Disappointed in God”
• Ora et Labora: Begin Success with Prayer
• Honesty: The Bitter Thing That Bears Sweet Fruit
• The Holy Spirit: The Helper and Comforter in Difficult Times
• Steps to Obtain Restoration

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