This summer I’m on a special four-month program to deal with some health issues. When I started, I asked God to do for me spiritually what I was trying to accomplish physically. 

Heal and detox. 

Several weeks in, the spiritual detox began. Thoughts, expectations, and judgments bubbled up like the crude oil on the Beverly Hillbillies. Ick. Where did that gunk come from?

While God’s conviction is firm but kind, I tend to beat myself up over sin when it surfaces. One thing has helped. Remembering that God’s correction, His discipline, demonstrates His love for me. 

Yep. Love. 

Because God’s conviction is gentle and leads to repentance, I want to change. 

Condemnation comes from the enemy. He attacks me, not my behavior. I feel awful, and often, condemnation leads to despair. 

Hebrews 12:5-11 speaks volumes for those with ears to hear:

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 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. [emphasis mine]

Growing up, I experienced punishment, spanking, grounding, loss of privileges, quick enforcement when a rule was broken. Does God punish His kids? No. Jesus bore our punishment, the penalty for our sin. Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” 

How about natural consequences? Part of discipline? Maybe. Probably.

So, what’s the difference between punishment and discipline? 

In the Hebrews passage on discipline, the first two principles are encouragement and relationship. Next, I see a new facet of discipline. Not only is discipline corrective, but it is also training in righteousness, as seen in a hardship. My husband and I both have parents with dementia. We’ve developed more kindness and patience because of this hardship training. And the benefits of discipline? A harvest of righteousness and peace and a share of God’s holiness. Better choices. Less stress. Godly wisdom.

Not things I associate with punishment.

If you’re one who questions God’s love and acceptance, take heart. I’ve dealt with rejection all my life. Receiving love from others is hard because I don’t see myself as worthy.

God’s discipline says otherwise. 

When God corrects a wrong choice, calls out an attitude, or brings a hard thing into my life, it’s because He loves me. I am His. A daughter worth teaching and training. 

And correcting. 

Because His plans for me are good. He cares too much to leave me where I am. 

When my previously mentioned expectations and judgments surfaced, (they came through my internal thoughts while dealing with someone), the Holy Spirit hit the pause button and drew my attention to them. While I set the bar high for myself, I realized I had unconsciously set one for the other person too. So not fair, because then I judged them for not meeting my standards.

The Holy Spirit led me to a course correction. A release, a letting go of the unreasonable expectations I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. It was convicting—and freeing. He challenged me to examine other relationships for the same issue. 

Even though discipline can be painful, even though I cringe when sin is revealed, part of me presses into God and says thank you. He loves me. He is making me like Jesus and that takes time and effort. 

Time and effort He spends on me. I am loved (a lot, evidently). 

Discussion Questions: 

How do you see God’s correction, as positive or negative? Why?

When God corrects, how do you respond? What action do you take?

How does the discipline of training compare with the discipline of correction?

How do your children view discipline or correction?

Gayle creates one-page Bible studies for both preschoolers and elementary-aged students that parallels each month’s blog post. Click here for August’s download. Don’t miss the Everyday Wonder activity sheets on the Everyday Wonder page.