Barb and I never wanted our kids’ past failures to define them. We wanted them to recognize their problems, confess their sin, change their direction or behavior, and wake up to a brand new tomorrow without something hanging over their heads. That’s why we didn’t do a lot of grounding or long-term punishment that went on for days, weeks or months. If my parents took the grounding approach to my sinful behavior then I would still be in my room not eating dessert – and they sold our house two years ago!

God is a perfect Father and knows exactly what we need to grow us spiritually. The Bible promises that He will discipline His unruly child.

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives” (Hebrews 12:5-6).

Discipline is a sign of relationship. God will only discipline His own children with a trajectory toward conformity to the holy character of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. He has a prefect goal with His perfect discipline.

But what about when we suffer and didn’t do anything wrong? For example, what about Job? Even Job eventually realized that God’s “secret” workings were not arbitrary and capricious. In the middle of trying to figure out what in the world was going on in his life Job declared,

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” (Job 23:10).

That is pain with a purpose. God is in control of the good and the bad in our lives. It is our responsibility to submit to His good plan and rest assured that His moment-by-moment grace will be sufficient during our weakness. God doesn’t want our past failures to define us. He desires us to repentant of sin and move into a brand new tomorrow experiencing His mercy. He is a perfect Father and knows exactly how to get us to this point. So, what’s holding you back from obedience to the heavenly Father?

Grace & Peace,