You must be patient with discipline. God is dealing with you as his sons and daughters. What child is there that the parent doesn’t discipline? If you are left without discipline (we’ve all had our fair share of it!), you are illegitimate, and not true children.

Hebrews 12:7-8 (NTFE)

 

Growth and pain are synonymous.

We cannot avoid the hard lessons in our walk with God. Often, we must go through many dark and painful moments before learning how to act and respond as His sons and daughters. God’s kind of pain is not punishment. It is part of the preparation for our purpose. It is like an athlete enduring pain and building resilience, both of which are essential for success.

Why and how does God discipline us?

According to Hebrews, God disciplines us because He loves us. He will not spare us from anything that will help us grow and mature, ensuring that we are fully equipped for every good work. Paideuō, the Greek word for discipline, refers to a father directing and instructing his children to follow the right path. There is nothing to fear when God’s Spirit lovingly disciplines us through the revelation of His Word (cf. Revelation 3:19).

Even when God chastises us, it is always life-giving and uplifting because it comes from a place of perfect love and acceptance. However, if we have an orphan spirit, we will misunderstand or misinterpret what He says. Then we will withdraw and not pursue the desires He has for us. Thus, it is wise to cultivate a teachable spirit and a desire to learn. When we rightly listen to the Spirit and Scripture, it puts everything into perspective. This allows us to experience the joy of our salvation.