For Whom the Lord Loveth, He Chasteneth

Growing pains. I thought that meant that your body ached when your bones grew, or muscles stretched, or something along those lines. I suppose that is probably a correct understanding. However, spiritually-speaking, maturing in the Lord has its share of joyless moments, too. What? How is that possible, you ask? Aren't we always to have a joyful attitude??? It is a matter of perspective. Just look at Hebrews 12:11 --

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

If there's any hand of discipline I'd prefer to come under, but at the same time, avoid, it would be God's. Talk about the perfect Father choosing the absolutely correct discipline for me! The central joy and comfort is found in verse 6 --

For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

I often wonder why I haven't arrived yet, why I still make choices that in hindsight I wished I had never made, why I still entertain lustful thoughts all the way to their giving birth (death?) to sin -- I understand that I must continue to parent my children, but won't that come to an end when they are grown? Wait a minute, that's a little short-sighted of me, in the light of Deuteronomy 6:7 and Psalm 78 which charges me with the responsibility for my children AND my children's children.

I'm slowly learning that I will never 'arrive' in the sense that I've been thinking; as long as I'm a child of God, I will continue to be trained by God, which would mean here and now as well as eternally. Well, then, wouldn't it make sense to stop learning the hard way and obey the first time? Yes. Is that what God is trying to teach me? Yes. Will I get it eventually? Yes, which is why Hebrews 12:12-15 reads --

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

With all that said, I wanted to write this post as a point in my life where I re-learned this lesson so I can go back to it and shake my head, get on my knees, repent, and thank the Lord once again for showing me my absolute and desperate need for Him, for without Him, I can do nothing (John 15:5) but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philllipians 4:13)!!!

Praise the Lord!!!