I can barely stay seated in this chair right now, because of the beautiful reality that I am about to share with you!! A reality that my eyes have just recently been opened to. Are you ready? The reality is that God loves you too much to let you remain the same. Take a minute, and read that again. I want you to read it again, because although it may sound simple, the process is not. When we are in the process of being broken down and transformed, the last thing we want to do is praise God. This process feels anything but beautiful at the time. Trust me, I know. It took me a while to come around, but God, in all of His patience and mercy, waited for me. I have come to realize that the road to righteousness is not pain-free, but Jesus allows us to walk in discipline with a joy that is far beyond our own strength.
Coming face to face with our own self-righteousness is anything but easy or exciting in the moment. But, it is in these moments that God has every piece of our attention, and He is able to break apart and refine the areas of our lives that we have put all of our worth and energy into, sometimes without even realizing it. God’s strength becomes the new cry of our heart, and we are introduced to a joy that doesn’t even compare to what we were striving towards before. Hebrews 12:5-6 captured my heart.
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
I encourage you to not lose heart, but to recognize that God’s discipline is a gift. A gift that we don’t always ask for or want, but that we desperately need. When I accepted this truth, I was able to see a part of God that I had missed before. I developed a deeper appreciation for the way that He loves me. I no longer felt frustrated towards Him. The road to righteousness is not easy, but it is well worth it. It is on this road that we draw closer to Jesus, far closer than we ever could have when relying on our own strength. It is on this road that we lay down our desire to please man, to be in control, and to define ourselves by the standards of the world. Why? Because we are becoming more like Jesus.
When you feel like you are being broken apart the answer is to lean in. Don’t run away or take matters into your own hands like we so often do. Lean in to the presence of God, and embrace what He wants to teach you fully. It is here that the things that once felt so big and so important are put back in their rightful place. Lay down your fears, disappointments, and questions at the feet of Jesus, and pick up His rest, joy, and peace. Accept His gift of discipline, and thank Him for it, knowing that He never leaves and always shows up.