Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

LIFE LESSONS

June 17, 2009

When times are tough it is natural, and common to ask, "Why is God punishing me?" In general I urge us to approach our tough times differently.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
- Hebrews 12:11 TNIV

Interesting. Immediately following this extended inspiration on faith in Hebrews 11, comes the topic of God's discipline. Discipline for disciples, imagine that! For too long we have associated discipline with punishment. Hebrews 12 may redefine, and helpfully so, our understanding of discipline.
We often say:
Discipline = punishment (No, not necessarily!)
Hebrews says:
Discipline = maturation, learning, substance, character--Life Lessons.

Rather than saying, "Why is God punishing me?" ask, "What might the God who loves me be inviting me to learn in this troublesome hour?"
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson