“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
— Hebrews 12:11
God Uses Problems to Direct You
We don’t enjoy discipline while it’s happening — it’s painful! Being trained in self-control is hard! But afterward, you will earn great rewards.
Morgan knew she’d overeaten all summer, but it wasn’t until she bought new school clothes that she realized how much weight she’d gained. Not being able to buy the cute clothes she saw was hard enough, but returning to school was worse. Girls in gym class raced circles around her. A girl from her class last year said she hardly recognized Morgan — and Morgan knew she referred to her new chipmunk cheeks.
Discipline often comes in the form of problems we want to hide from. We often fail to see how God is trying to use those very problems to help us learn more about ourselves. He may want to turn you in a different direction or motivate you to make a change in your life. The weight comments and being left in the dust in gym class were painful for Morgan. However, they motivated her to take better care of her body, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Developing self-control is hard, but remember the rewards! Stay focused on the prize you’ll receive at the end.
More to Explore: Hebrews 12:5 – 6 and 2 Corinthians 4:17
Girl Talk: How do you handle being disciplined? Can you understand why you need to be corrected from time to time?
God Talk: “Lord, being corrected is not my favorite thing. Please help me to remember that you discipline me because you want what is best for me. Amen.”
From Girlz Rock by Kristi Holl