Being the mother of a toddler, I am just learning the importance of discipline, not punishment necessarily, but discipline. In my mind, I have a picture of the young lady I wish for my two-year-old daughter to eventually become. I desire for her to be compassionate and selfless, putting the needs of others in front of her own. I desire for her to be sincere, being true to her beliefs and convictions. I desire for her to be nurturing, loving all others unconditionally. I desire her to be responsible, working hard to earn treasures and also admitting when she has made a mistake. I desire her to be a Godly lady.
However, I understand that wishing these things will not, on its own, make them happen. God has given me the privilege of being a mother. He chose this little blond girl to be mine on this earth, and I take that job very seriously, for I know I will be accountable for her raising. Even though she is only two, I already know that there is nothing more rewarding than watching her learn or holding her close as she snuggles. But there is nothing more heartbreaking than hearing her cry when I must discipline her. However, if I truly want her to become the woman I described previously, I must consistently train her to know right from wrong and to take accountability for her actions.
Despite my understanding of the importance of disciplining my own child, and having seen the results of parents who do not, I still do not always appreciate God’s same role as disciplinarian. When facing trials and difficulties in my own life, I often think, “this simply is not how it is suppose to be” or “this isn’t fair.” I let my weak human mind and body fail under the stress instead of looking to the wisdom God offers. Hebrews 12 offers me a great reminder of why God, like me as mother, must discipline His children:
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:7-11Hebrews 12:7-11
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
7 Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don't all parents correct their children? 8 God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to him. 9 Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn't it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us? 10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is. 11 It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
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I definitely don’t put my daughter in time-out because it’s fun, nor do I expect her to follow certain daily routines because it’s easy. I create discipline because it works—it enforces good behaviors, encourages respect, and sets up healthy habits, and because I love her. Why, then, do I so often doubt that God does the same thing. Instead, I think I know best and question my circumstances and His callings. These verses in Hebrews offer an insight that I may not have fully understood without being parent. I am God’s child, and he loves me with a love that is even more profound and more perfect than I can ever love my own children. If I believe that discipline is best for my daughter, I must then also believe that as a daughter of my Heavenly Father, obstacles and difficulties are necessary; they enforce good behaviors, encourage respect, and set up healthy habits, and most importantly, prove that God loves me. Hebrews 12: 10Hebrews 12: 10
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
10 Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is.
WP-Bible plugin emphasizes that God desires Holiness in my life. Wow! I can’t imagine being Holy, as God is Holy, but if He knows how to get me there, maybe I should stop whining and start paying attention. My prayer is that I am ready to be trained as a child of a sovereign God.
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