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Hebrews 12:12-13
The author of Hebrews gives encouragement to those who have experienced discipline from God. He wants them to understand that God disciplines those He loves, just as a father disciplines his children to correction and growth as a person. Hebrews 12:12-13 is given a new life from being discouraged for receiving discipline to a better understanding of why in Isaiah 35:3-4 which states (NKJV),
“Strengthen the weak hands,
And make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with
Vengeance,
With the recompense of God;
He will come and save you.’”
In Hebrews 12:13 the author tells us that discipline from God should be received as healing to the one in which God is showing His love through the discipline given.
This is an example and encouragement that when God disciplines us, it is because He loves us and desires that we learn and grow in our relationship with Him.
This is a promise that being disciplined from God is to be received as healing and growth in our relationship with Him.
It is human nature to withdraw when one receives discipline – we view discipline as a bad thing that no one desires to experience. But when God disciplines us, it is because He has brought us to a place of growth and healing in our relationship with Him. This will happen when we stray from the path in which He has set for us, and sometimes simply because He knows that we are at a point in our life and growth as a Christian when it is time to take that next step in our maturity as His child. Be strong in Christ Jesus and seek His ways for your life – through the good and the bad – and you will be sure to have growth and healing in your walk with the Lord.
Dear LORD,
Please open our eyes to the fact that when You discipline us it is for our growth and healing of our relationship with You. Please help us to not be discouraged by Your disciplining of our lives, but to look to You for the guidance that You desire for us to learn from Your discipline that is given us of Your great love for us to be the people You would have us to be – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.