My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline
Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV)
or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights.
When God sees something harmful in your life, what should he do? Should he just let it slide? Should he protect your feelings and happiness? Or should he do what is necessary to purge it from you? What kind of father would he be if he just let us harbor sin, unbelief, pride and unkindness?
It may be painful when God cuts us open and does his spiritual surgery on us, but part of us knows it is best for us. He corrects us because he loves us. This is our encouragement; that we have a loving infinite Father who loves us too much to let us wallow in our immaturity. In fact, he delights in us. When God is removing embedded ungodliness in us, we do not usually think about how much he delights in us, but it makes the process a little less painful.
As God calls you to die to self and surrender to him are you able to remind yourself that he is your loving Father who delights in you and is restoring his image in you so you can be more fruitful and enjoy more of his goodness?
