As parents we have to discipline our children and it is not a pleasant task, but we know it is necessary, at least generally.  There are times when we can be deceived or mislead to a different conclusion.  As a grandparent this is far more frequent.  My son, speaking of my grandson, said, “He’s smarter than you.”  This was after we discovered my grandson had leveraged information and the lack of it, to his advantage.  If we love our children we will discipline them.  Undisciplined children are unhappy in the long-term and can be very broken by a lack of boundaries and parental love that secures these boundaries.

There are no perfect parents and abusive parents are equally harmful to children, perhaps far more so, depending on the nature and severity of the abuse.  As a believer, I have always considered parenting as a supernatural assignment from God, as such we are given abilities that go beyond the natural, even though we may never see or feel it.  Where does the love come from?  It flows from God into our hearts; It is all so natural, so ordinary and necessary, because God’s love is all around us, each day He supplies all we need.

God is the diligent parent who disciplines His people out of His great love for us.

“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.’  Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.  For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.  Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.  How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!  They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest o f righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 5:7-11).

This can be a both a hard and encouraging scripture.  “Endure hardship as discipline…” is the practical part, but we must live in the fact and knowledge of God’s love.  Can we respect our loving Heavenly Father as He disciplines us, and be trained by it to receive righteousness and peace.  It is a high calling to be part of God’s family, particularly given that we are adopted into it.  I have seen those who hold against God a grudge and heard the pride of those who say, “I can not believe in a God who would …”.  Unbelief, rejection, pride, stubbornness, self-reliance, these are the barriers to enlightenment and peace.