The Discipline of God

Psalm 6 is a prayer from David to God that the Lord not be harsh in chastisement. David knew he deserved worse but asked God for mercy...

Psalm 6:1–3 (ESV) O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O LORD—how long?

One of the worst attitudes of prayer we could have is to believe we are entitled to something from God. The name-it-claim-it-mentality we may have heard about just isn't the manner in which the Scriptures implore us to come to God. David comes humbly. He fully knows God would be right to punish him harshly for his actions. But he seeks the mercy of a loving Father.

Whatever it is that David has done, it has robbed him of sleep and rest:

Psalm 6:6–7 (ESV) I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows weak because of all my foes.

A few Psalms ago, David was able to rest quietly having poured out his heart to the Lord. This time, no such luck. That is sometimes what we experience. We will have a good night of rest after crying out to God and at other times we struggle through the trial. This is the life of faith. Accepting from God what He sees fit to hand us.

A good approach when we are struggling with our circumstances is not to ask, "When will I get out of this?" but "WHAT can I get out of this?" The Lord is always teaching us, sometimes through discipline and rebuke... but we rest assured that his discipline and rebuke is making us what He wants us to become.

You won't be disciplined for one moment more than is necessary for you to become the person God wants you to be.

That may not make you feel better, but it should make you know better.