One of the last things in the world I ever thought I would be thankful for is God’s chastening, His correction, His conviction, and His leading me to repentance. But I was reminded no more than a minute or two ago of how thankful I am for all this. What just happened? The Lord just chastened me for some impulsive and selfish behavior. I had contacted a friend and told her something to get a burden off my shoulders. But I hadn’t considered she had a huge burden on her shoulders already and didn’t need a call from me let alone a call about some difficult stuff going on in the world. I had been wrong. And God, in His love for me as His child and servant, has brought the necessary correction.
Why was I thankful for God chastening me and leading me to repentance, and why should we all be thankful for this? The verses below say it all.
“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Hebrews 12:5-11 KJV