What’s the Difference, It Still Hurts

What’s the Difference, It Still Hurts


My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord Disciplines you, and don’t be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:11-12 NEW LIVING TRANSLATION


I have read this verse for years, and I didn’t get it till now. You see, many times a writer will use examples taken from everyday life and the culture she or he is in to explain a concept. The writer of Proverbs, (most likely Solomon, though there were others that contributed), used an example from his own life to explain a spiritual truth. David, Solomon’s father, seemed to not only watch over his son, but to communicate with him. He left legacies for his son such as wisdom in keeping God’s commands, prayer, kingship and direction. This was all a part of Solomon’s training and discipline.

I was watching a movie once where the father regularly explained things to his son. I asked my wife if people really spoke that way to their kids. She suggested that it was possible. As a result of my upbringing, I never understood the difference between being in trouble and being disciplined. What’s the difference? They both hurt. To me they were intertwined and I had no desire for either.

The word “discipline” conjures up all sorts of negative imagery for me. Restraint, control and obedience are the first words that come to mind. But, there is a different word to define discipline, teach. When God disciplines us, we usually think of the negative stuff, right? For example, when things go wrong, we immediately blame God. Then we start rationalizing why this thing has happened to us with comments like, “God must be punishing me,” or “what did I do this time?”

When difficult things happen, maybe we should try to look at them as corrections instead of punishments. Instead of asking why God is picking on us, ask God what He is showing us. What does He want us to learn?