Discipline Sucks
Discipline was not a pleasant factor in my youth. As a teenager, I developed a reasonable theory that discipline was a crazy idea developed in some far off country where my parents and teachers were born.
This takes us to another theory where my parents and teachers were part of a foreign conspiracy to take over the United States of America. Their plan was to plant subliminal messages in my generation to grow up and only vote for presidents who are ex-governors, ex-CIA, or really, extremely short-term senators – somehow this was favorable for the unknown foreign powers. This, of course, was absurd and unlikely to happen as long as you don’t count any president since President Ford.
I realize now that I am fortunate for the correction I received. In fact, now I know discipline is a Biblical concept.
Hebrews 12:5-7 tells us, “And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.’ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined?”
This is an encouraging passage when I find myself saying, “Why is this happening to me, Lord?” or when I begin a why-me-pity-party.
Are you familiar with the why-me-pity-party trap? Maybe you’re more familiar with the I’m-having-one-of-those-days-pity-party trap? These pity-party traps seem to be more frequent when I am not spending enough time with the Lord in prayer or studying the Bible. Could it be the root of the circumstances for these pity-party traps is actually a form of discipline in our lives?
My comprehension of this concept increases when I consider my own three children. My wife and I are raising a thirteen year-old princess photographer with excellent baking skills, but must have things her own way; an eleven year-old self-styling stunt woman who will climb anything, go anywhere, and do anything for a laugh or even a giggle; and a nine year-old Bob-the-Builder/inventor who is ready to build his first house, robot, jet-car, and whatever else he can scrap together with the four boards out in my garage.
Discipline is a daily event in our house… ok, there are days it may be an hourly event. The punishments are not mean or cruel as I perceived them to be in my youth – the correction is to build the desired character traits and values in our children, to teach them right from wrong, and to keep them safe. We care for our children, we love them, and a fundamental part of the expression of our love for our children is discipline when needed. Sometimes, discipline is difficult to dish-out, defining the old saying, “…this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you…”, although I’m not going to try to get my kids to buy that one at their age.
A fundamental part of the Lord’s expression of His love for us is discipline when needed.
A good comparison to this parent-child relationship is drawn from Hebrews 12:9-11, “Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening – it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”
No discipline is enjoyable for the recipient or it would not qualify as discipline. With proper discipline, we receive the benefits of the correction. This is our hope for our children, and Scripture tells us this is God’s plan for us.
I doubt the princess, the funny stuntwoman, nor Bob-the-Builder understands this now. I did not understand this in my youth, although the Lord has taught me much. Through correction and discipline, He has changed my perspective. That doesn’t mean I like to receive the discipline, but it helps to know the motive.
Some people have difficulty with the concept of the Lord giving discipline. When you consider He created the entire universe and every particle within it and that He can move planets with just a thought, why would He take time to punish a puny little guy like me? We find the answer in Hebrews 12:6, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children.”
The Lord loves us. Period. Sometimes we just have to stop and remind ourselves that He really cares. He loves us.
Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
