Enduring Chastening

Every Christian faces chastening of one kind or another during different periods of life. It has been described as God's House of Correction, or His School of Instruction.

It is not always easy to discern why afflictions cross our path. God is a perfect Father, who, out of love will chastise His people. We can suffer ill-health, have family troubles, have loss of comforts, encounter difficulties and hardships, but not every affliction is meant as a punishment, but every affliction can be useful in our sanctification.

We must always be ready to examine ourselves. Has God been speaking to us? Have we neglected previous warnings, maybe by having left our conscience on ‘answer-phone'.

When we are chastened it is proof that we are true children – if nothing happened to us, if we never had to learn hard lessons, or be humbled by circumstance, then we wouldn't be Christians, those that need fatherly correction.

We need to be trained by these things, and not cease in our Christian duties. However painful and uncomfortable our chastening, God does love us – “whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives”. In the midst of our afflictions we must remember to feed on the promises of God, they bring assurance, and will do us good. Our chastening will have an end, we will not be abandoned. God is there to help us in our fears and our tears. His chastening is crafted not by vindictiveness, but by love. Remember, don't lose heart!