Job 5:17

Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

• Correction
• Discipline
• Patience
• Humility
• Guidance

One core value that is fast becoming extinct in our society is the art of discipline. Its absence or insufficiency has resulted in the surge of bad habits and crime in our communities. As humans, we make mistakes and find it hard to admit them, so instead of admitting, we get defensive. Even when we admit to wrongdoing, we don’t like the idea of being corrected. We resist and reject correction because it involves punishment that might inflict pain on us. When we do wrong as children and get chastised by our parents, we forget that they love us and label them as being wicked.
Just as our earthly parents punish us when we defy their instructions and do wrong, so also does God. When we sin and God punishes us for our actions or inactions, certain facts are established. First, He corrects us because He loves and cares about us. Any parent who loves his child and wants the best for him/her will chastises the child when he does wrong. Chastening is part of the raining curriculum of a parent to the children. Secondly, it is proof that you are his son and He is your father. Lastly, when God chastens us, it is for our good. We become refocused on our service to Him, and we are shaped to conform to his image and to live in a godly way. 
So the next time we feel we are being chastened by God, we should realize that it is His way of making us a better version of ourselves and being more like Him.

• discouragement

• abiding

• resting