God Loves Us Too Much To Leave Us As We Are
"Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of his,
and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name,
for his anger is but for a moment, his favor is for life.
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."
Psalm 30:4-5
His anger is but for a moment…
We are a fallen people born to fallen parents into a fallen world. And without discipline we stay that way. It takes the training of the Lord to mature us.
"My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by him;
for whom the Lord loves he chastens,
and scourges every son whom he receives.”
Hebrews 12:6
It's vitally important to remember that the discipline of the Lord does not separate us from his love. He disciplines us from a heart of Fatherly love, and his goal is to transform us into a mature and godly people. It is the hard things in life that teach us what we need to learn and establish in us correct priorities.
vs 11:
"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present,
but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields
the peaceable fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it."
The discipline is not forever, but only until the purpose has been met. Afterwards, the mercy and love of God is lavished upon us and truly "joy comes in the morning."
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
to the end that my glory may sing praise to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever."
Psalm 30:11-12
It truly is the love of God that applies what is needed to transform us. Even in the world, we've all seen the results when parents withhold discipline from their children. We've all seen "spoiled brats," and it's ugly isn’t it! God our Father knows each believer's makeup and he knows just what each one needs to prevent that. When it is finished, we are left singing praise to the Father who loves us, the Father who loves us too much to leave us the way we are.
Do not resist God's discipline, there is nothing to gain from resisting except bitterness towards God. Embrace God's discipline rather, and pray for grace to truly cooperate with God and learn the lessons in your story, lessons that will lead you to a closer, more intimate fellowship with your Redeemer who loves you with an everlasting love. Later you will praise him for that discipline and realize that God is faithful who brought you through it, and you'll understand that he loves you too much to leave you the way you are.
"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees,
and make straight paths for your feet,
so that what is lame may not be dislocated,
but rather be healed."
Hebrews 12:12-13