Correction Now Can Save Us Pain Later

Last night it was entertaining for us to listen to the exclamantions and laughter coming from our children downstairs as they watched a t.v. show they enjoy. Even from a distance it made us smile. Who doesn't like to hear the laughter of the people you  love? Unfortunately, parenting isn't all giggles. At times corrections need to be made for the long-term health and well-being of the child. One day they will be out on their own, needing to take responsiblity for their own lives, and we want them to be as prepared for success as possible with the tools and character they need to live and thrive in all areas of life.

Psalm 118:18 says "The Lord has chastened me severely, but He has not given me over to death".

Chastened means discipline in the sense of training - a parent chastens their child to train them in the way they should go.  In fact, Hebrews says that when God chastens us, it is because we are as sons, and a Father chastens the sons that He loves.

• Sometimes the chastening feels unbearable - it is "severe", BUT.....
• He has not given me over to death
• It wasn't too much for me to bear
• It saved me from the death that would have come if I'd continued as I was.

The Lord loves me enough to save me from death at my own hand, whether that's death of a relationship, a dream, a job, a life....

When I feel the hand of correction on my life, I want to remember that while I don't enjoy the process, it is saving me from a worse consequence as a result of my own sin, foolishness, rebelliousness, stupidity, etc. And sometimes I just don't know what I don't know and correction comes to teach me if I will listen.

When I find myself in a position of needing to correct someone, I want to remember that the end goal is LIFE, not death. I want to see them positioned in life to flourish and thrive. Keeping this goal in mind helps me to follow-through because it is for the benefit of the one I love. It also helps me to be thankful when I too receive chastening.

Maybe you have felt "chastened" lately, whether by the Lord, a parent, an authority figure (through words,, actions or circumstances even). What did you learn from it?