For the Lord will not cast off forever; but though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. (Lam.3:31-33)

God is not an angry God waiting to zap us with lightning when we mess up or fall into sin. As a matter of truth, He knows we will fall, for if we say we have no sin, we are liars (1 John 1:8). The other side to that is God does not expect nor accept us continually living in sin. Hebrews 10:26 tells us,”if we deliberately keep sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin remains”. All scripture is given by God and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). I know intimately of the chastening of God, for this is how He reinstated me into my place in His family.

The word the Lord gave me that changed my life when I cried out to Him, when I was dying, was Jeremiah 30:12-17

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Your wound is incurable, your injury beyond healing. There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sore, no healing for you. All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you as would the cruel, because your guilt is so great and your sins so many. Why do you cry out over your wound, your pain that has no cure? Because of your great guilt and many sins I have done these things to you. ‘But all who devour you will be devoured; all your enemies will go into exile. Those who plunder you will be plundered; all who make spoil of you I will despoil. But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.’

When I received this word from the hand of God, I was amazed and the fear of God struck me! I realized that out of His love for me He was chastening me severely because the work He had for me to do was too important and He chose me to do it. His love will cause His discipline to work in us reverence toward Him. His discipline and correction has caused me to stay close to Him and lean on Him for everything. Hebrews 12:6 says,”those who He loves He chastens, He punishes everyone He accepts as His son. Revelation 3:19 states,”those who I love I rebuke (correct) and chasten (discipline)”. We can not expect to be part of God’s family without Him dealing with our carnal ways. His way of dealing with us is beautiful and personal even though we as humans see discipline in a negative aspect. God’s discipline is not abuse, it is love; man’s discipline many times is abuse that is void of love. Trust in the Lord and in His ways. Your best is in His heart no matter how He sees fit to carry it out.

If you are going through a season of discipline by God, do not turn back! He only disciplines because of His great love. The outcome will be better than you could have ever imagined. Just endure till the end and then enjoy the fruit of discipline in your life!