Sometimes Love Hurts

“…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?” Hebrews 12:6

As my friend told me about the situation my heart went out to her. Renters had trashed their home that they were now ready to move back into and they were asking God what their next steps should be. Exasperated, she said, “It would be easier to forget about it all”. I had to stop and consider how true her words were.

Too often we tend to think that loving someone means that we let that person have their own way or do what they want to do. Forgetting it all seems the easiest route to follow. But Scripture makes it clear that it doesn’t work that way. In the same way that parents need to discipline their children, God treats us like his own children (Hebrews 12:7) and therefore there are times when he does in fact correct and discipline us.

So what does that mean for me? Do I believe that God loves me so much that he disciplines and corrects me when needed even though it can be painful at times? Am I willing to accept correction from God, or from others? Do I look for the kernel of truth and trust God to work in my life?

Heavenly Father, thank You that You love me enough to discipline and correct me. Help me to accept that correction from You and never doubt that You do in fact love me. Thank You that You love me too much to leave me the way I am. Amen

Have you seen evidence of God’s discipline and correction in your life? Have you accepted that as an evidence of his love for you and thanked him for it? What are the next steps that you need to take as a result?