“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19
Discipline makes me uncomfortable. In the moment, all discipline feels painful rather than pleasant, but when adhered to, there is a reward. Sometimes the reward feels so far off as to be unattainable – and so the feelings must be dealt with in order to submit to the purpose of the One who allows the pain.
There are several things one must truly understand to walk in the footsteps of Jesus:
- He loves me.
- I will suffer while living in this sinful world.
- When I suffer, I share in the afflictions of Christ
- I have a promised eternal inheritance
- I am never alone. Jesus is always with me.
Why do I write this out today?
Sometimes believers face unprecedented pain. It catches us off guard and our brains take on the consistency of scrambled eggs. Our rational thoughts evaporate like water on hot pavement, and we feel the searing pain in our soul.
I like how Joni Eareckson Tada describes suffering: “God permits what he hates to accomplish what He loves.” (Ten Words That Changed Everything About My Suffering | Desiring God) Mainly, our sanctification.
There’s that sticky “S” word. It’s a key tenet of my faith. It sounds fabulous when my circumstances are pretty and fine, but when the blender of life malfunctions and the pumpkin pie filling explodes and hits the ceiling – all bets are off as to how I’ll respond.
Working toward perfection
There is what I call a key “cop out” in our culture today. We say, “I’m only human” to excuse our weaknesses. We indulge in too much cake, too much wine, too many Oreos, or too much television. We use the word ‘binge’ as if it is actually acceptable for a child of God. Then we make a joke about it to shirk off our guilt. And it’s really only when the pants get tight or our marriage starts to suffer that we wake up to the fact that something is wrong. PAIN is an indicator light on the dashboard of our lives. Not to say it’s our fault every time we suffer. But if we pursue a path in direct disobedience to God’s will for our lives, He will correct us. The goal is to be ‘Holy as He is holy’. From His perspective, if we want to enter His kingdom, nothing short of that will do.
1 John 3: 4-10
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
With all of that in mind, it’s important to draw near to God when affliction or adversity come. We must fast and pray for wisdom on how best to respond. Also, our perspective can be so warped because of our inward focused nature, therefore it behooves us to seek counsel from trusted believers and really listen to what they say, ask them to pray for us, and then personally pray more!
Most importantly, we must ground ourselves in the knowledge that we belong to Christ – and are IN Christ as a new creation. Affliction is NOT punishment. Discipline and punishment are two different things. God disciplines us because he loves us. He corrects us to make us Holy because holiness is the most supreme beauty humankind can experience. Conversely, Jesus took our punishment on the cross. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. And while it may FEEL like punishment when God tries to separate us from those things we consider of more value than Him, in reality, it is a severe mercy.
Today, if affliction or suffering finds you filled with doubt, wracked by guilt, and running from God as fast as your feet will carry you: Stop! Consider the words of Jesus:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Consider the one who sees you as you are and loves you anyway. He loves you so much that he carried and died on a cross to remove punishment far from you.
The prophet Isaiah wrote some of the most comforting words (Isaiah 53). Read them. Meditate on them. Trust Him. And then pull out your bible and read the whole chapter (or the whole book!).
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”
I am eagerly waiting for the day I will be with God and know God as I am fully known. It makes affliction worthwhile because I know it is only His discipline showing me the way to holiness. Thank you, Father. You are always good.
Very good stuff. Thank you Margaret.
Don