Proverbs 3:11-12

The LORD disciplines those whom he loves.

Challenging? Yes! 

I've spent countless minutes pondering how I would discipline my children. My mother did a wonderful job in raising me (If I do say so myself); I only hope I can do half as well. But still I struggle with correction. My mom never yelled at me and I never saw her get truly angry with me, at least I don't remember it. When people today are angry or just upset with me, my instant reaction is usually to shut down emotionally and then I get a migraine and then I need to go sleep until I forget the trauma I just experienced. If not this, I usually end up bawling my eyes out in front of the person, leaving them confused as to why a 22 year old is crying because of something (correction) that is perfectly normal and necessary. 

Recently I had a really good friend talk to me about starting to change our working style which had to do with us spending less time together. My instant, fleshly reaction was to think he WANTED to spend less time with me, the rejection feelings took over and what happened? I shut up, looked down and didn't talk for a while. Then the Lord started to speak to me. He asked me why I was feeling this way when this friend had over and over again proved he liked hanging out with me and genuinely loved me as a friend. What came out of my mouth after that was this horrifically self-pityish remark. I said that I felt like God was punishing me for doing something wrong and that's why we had to hang out less. My friend then said some very wise-words: "God is moving us forward BECAUSE we've been doing a good job. He thinks we're ready for the next step." 

This event has replayed over and over in my head as I realized, especially in the area of being alone, that I believed it was a punishment every time the Lord asked me to do something I wasn't exactly excited about. Working through Proverbs this week, this verse really stuck out to me because here was man from 1,000BC who had found out the same wisdom as I was learning in real life. I realize now that if God didn't love me, He'd leave me where I'm at, in all of my brokenness. But no, He DOES love me and is willing to say or do things in my life that may cause me pain because He desires my growth. 

There's another passage: Proverbs 29:1 - "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing." - I think this has got to be one of the saddest occurrences to God. He loves us so when we are going the wrong way, He tries to steer us back in the right direction. But how many times do we, in our pride, harden our hearts and refuse to receive the blessing God wishes to impart to us. The enemy wins and God is left without the one thing He desired: a relationship with His creation. 

It's so important that we are humble before God and others so that we can receive the blessings of correction and reproof. It's crucial that we recognize God's punishment is out of His love and His sovereign knowledge that a relationship with Him and righteousness are the things that will bring us true happiness. 

I encourage you, and myself, to spend some time in prayer and ask if there's anything God's been trying to tell you recently that you're simply too proud to hear. Don't miss out on what he has for you in this season. He wants so badly to have a more intimate relationship with you, that's why He corrects you.