Don’t you hate it when you experience the harsh discipline of the Lord God? I recall recent and past memories where I am neck deep in my sins, consistently practicing wickedness, and God being, the Loving, Holy Father—He is. Placed His mighty hand over me and started applying pressure to my life and circumstances until I repented. In the moment, I believed my punishment to be unfair, looking back I appreciate the hardship, and I have a profound intimate and reverent fear of God now.
The author of Hebrews elaborates on the relationship between the redeemed sinner, the Christian and the Lord God. He says in Hebrews 12:7, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”
Endurance is an aspect of patience. Being patient is not a fruit that comes naturally to people who have irritable, hasty dispositions. Several Christians have to intentionally develop this fruit, hardship evolves our spoiled, entitled attitudes into mature outlooks. To boot, when the Lord God utilizes hardship to discipline us, He is presenting us with an opportunity to grow and to change. If we desire maturity, holiness, and closeness with Christ, we must come to comprehend and accept sinful habits do not belong in God’s presence. Hardship is discipline. True growth occurs not in amiable circumstances, no child is pushed to learn the principles of responsibility, if no chores or rules have been established. Only after, a wise parent places boundaries and assigns the child responsibility that he is led to make a decision and carry out his chores at home.
It is the parent’s job to guide and chasten the child when he disobeys. God is not our buddy-buddy. He is our parent. According to John 1:12, “12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” God adopts the sinner who confesses he or she needs Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior completely into His family. You are adopted into the body of Christ, a heavenly family. This adoption decision a God’s choice. God is thee perfect parent. He grants us inheritance we share in with His first son, Christ Jesus. The Lord God makes promises He is bound and will joyfully complete. He does not hold anything against us when we sin, instead He puts the past behind Him.
So, clearly the Lord God is not a partial parent. He does not show favoritism, and if one of us is wrong, He will chasten us. Sometimes it truly is hard, embracing the hardship, especially when we’re confused. Did we sin? Did I do something wrong? When we cannot find the source or cause of the hardship, we must not grow discouraged. Not all hardship has its root in sin, however, if you acquiesce to God then, your trial shall be used for your benefit.
As children of God, respecting God’s authority and position is crucial to our maturity. A rebellious child does not learn much of anything from a parent he or she does not respect, and along in life discovers more difficulties along the way. A disobedient child often repeats the same lesson more than once. Ultimately, God being as powerful as He is, does not force us to make a decision. He respects our freewill and when we trust His heart having faith He knows what is best for us—then our hardship is not in vain.
So don’t fight the hardships, learn what God wants you to learn.
Copyright © 2018 by A Meeting at the Well
A Meeting at the Well 