Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

- Proverbs 3:11-12

When we think back to our childhoods, we can all recall a time where our parents disciplined us for doing something foolish.

In the moment, it was probably not very fun, right? We may have even been angry with our parents for a while afterwards and didn’t understand until later why they had to discipline us for things we otherwise thought were fine to do.

However, as adults, we can be thankful they didn’t just leave us to our own self-destruction.

With our heavenly Father, it is the same. Since we are His beloved children, He knows what is best for us.

He knows what will help and hurt us.

Whenever we mess up, we should not despair when He corrects us, but rejoice in the knowledge that it’s coming from a place of divine love.

When we choose to give up sin for the will of our Father, we are actually choosing true freedom.

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

Just as your parents corrected you for your own good, so does your heavenly Father. The next time you find yourself receiving discipline from God, rejoice! Allow Him to burn away the things that separate you from Him, for He is molding and maturing you into a beautiful creation!  

With Love,
Sarah Sherstad