"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."
Proverbs 3:11-12
Have you ever been camping with a toddler?
Everything is new and exciting, especially that captivating bonfire. Why do toddlers seem to gravitate towards what could cause them harm? But what can appear to be unfair restrictions (like not getting too close to a blazing fire) are often helpful guardrails inviting us to experience what's best.
In the same way, God offers us guardrails for life. If we claim to trust God with our lives but refuse to listen to the truth of His word, He will often get our attention.
You see, God is passionate about two things: His glory and our good.
He knows what is best for us and what we need. When we wander away from His truth, we can count on Him to lead us back through grace and love. He is not afraid of our rebellion and sin, and He will never give up on us. But God will open our eyes so that we can recognize our need for Him. The Bible calls this discipline. God wants us to see what is right, good, and true because He knows what we need.
Discipline, or correction, is never easy. We often believe that God corrects us out of anger. That idea, however, couldn't be further from the truth.
Just like any good parent, God's correction is out of love. In fact, He's working to lead us back to His love and grace. I know this might be difficult to believe. Learning from our mistakes is rarely fun. But even through the challenging times, God is opening our eyes to see where we went wrong and ultimately recognize our need for a Savior.
Keeping that toddler away from the fire can be tough, and it will not be fun for the toddler. But it's for their own good, whether they understand it or not.
Is God trying to get your attention? Are you experiencing some of God's tough love right now?
Don't fight it, and don't run from it. Instead, let it lead you back to God's love and grace. He wants you to know His best, and He loves you enough to reveal it to you.
