My Father Knows Best

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

My Father Knows Best

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. - Psalm 30:5

The Lord's anger is but for a moment compared to His favor, which lasts a lifetime. Even when He disciplines His children, whether to correct us in our sin or train us deeper in our faith, He is always patient, kind, and compassionate. The Lord's discipline may bring sorrow to the believer for a little while, but once we are trained by it, sorrow departs, and joy fills the heart. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Sometimes, God uses struggles and difficulties to correct me and guide me away from sin. (Heb 6:7-8). Other times, He allows for trials of various kinds to come into my life so that I may grow in my faith, "training" me to develop a deeper trust, love, and obedience to Jesus (James 1:2-4). This is likened to a relationship between a parent and child, where the dad and mom disciplines their son or daughter to teach them the right way to live. In hindsight (even if it's decades later), the child is able to see the unpleasant discipline for what it really was and loves and respects their Mom and Dad even more for it. (I hated not having cable tv when I was little. I was embarrassed that I was one of the only kids in my class who didn't have it. That was painful haha! But now I am so thankful to my amazing parents. They knew best, and they protected me from all that garbage that I would've definitely snooped into). I love you Mom and Dad. Thank you.

I know my Heavenly Father allows all His children to experience trouble in this short life (John 16:33), and I trust that He has a transformative purpose in them. Whatever dark valleys I may go through, I know my Heavenly Father will transform all my hardship and struggles to contribute toward my good (Rom 8:28). I am to accept it as spiritual discipline from a Heavenly Father who loves me. My Father knows best.

Three Things Trials & Discipline Do:

1. Proves My Salvation

2. Produces Peace & Righteousness

3. Prepares Me for Eternity

1. Proves My Salvation

No one enjoys being disciplined. It's no fun, that’s for sure! Trial periods are challenging times that test my faith and love for Jesus. Adversity often reveals what I truly believe and desire in my heart and brings to light the idols I need to turn from. The apostle Peter states that going through trials serve an important purpose...to prove the genuineness of my faith in Jesus, which he states is far more precious than mere gold.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

The end reward of trusting Jesus through all my trials and spiritual discipline is the salvation of my soul. Now, that's worth it! When my faith has been tested to be proven true, it gives me assurance of my salvation, which is a GINORMOUS blessing in and of itself. To know I am truly saved and belong to the Kingdom of God is a joy unparalleled to anything else! That amazing reality really keeps things in perspective for me and strengthens me in the midst of my trials. The joy of the Lord and my salvation gives me supernatural strength when I'm feeling weak.

2. Produces Peace & Righteousness

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. -  Hebrews 12:11

The Lord's discipline, although is often times highly uncomfortable for a while, resembles an athlete's training. During the exercise, the athlete finds it "painful rather than pleasant." However, later on, the athlete sees his own growth and progress due to those vigorous training sessions. Similarly, my faith in Jesus grows and strengthens as I experience the Lord's discipline, resulting in me producing the " peaceful fruit of righteousness." Spiritual discipline produces peace. When I have been trained to live right by following Jesus, a clear conscience and a peaceful soul is the result.

"Earth has no words to convey the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus." CH Spurgeon

During hard times, my focus tends to be on my uncomfortable circumstances. But through them, God is training me to focus on Jesus instead, and I can trust Him that my suffering is not in vain. God's Word teaches me to accept and submit to discipline as spiritual training (Heb 12:9), trusting that my Father knows best. It's only when the trial has passed that I often recognize how God used it to grow me in my faith and strengthen my relationship with Jesus. With a peaceful heart, I can look back and observe my maturing process, guided by the Lord's unpleasant discipline. I can see more clearly His gentle and loving Hand through it all, and trust and obey Him even more for it.

3. Prepares Me for Eternity

Most of us are familiar with the famous Romans 8:28 verse:

God works all things together for good for those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

But what we often forget is its context and what is at the heart of this verse, which is “to conform us to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). The ultimate goal of every Christian here on earth is to prepare us for eternity by conforming us to the image of Christ. Becoming more like Jesus carries along with it right living and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

So, all my trials and all my unpleasant and painful training in the Christian life are simply accomplishing the most important goal of the Christian life: making me more like Jesus, and preparing me for eternity, all so that I may glorify God and enjoy Him forever (the sole reason for my very existence). What I do here on earth, how I spend my time, how I endure suffering, and how I trust, love, and obey Jesus through both the good times and the "bad," will ring in the halls of Heaven forever. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning, and that shout of joy will be for an eternity!

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Encouraging Scriptures for You & Me

1. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us . Romans 8:18

   
   

   • Let us always remember that those who have put their total trust in Jesus for salvation, will experience only temporary suffering here on Earth (Rom 8:18-25).

2. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

   
   

   • Jesus' sheep are guaranteed that all their earthly sorrow, pain, and tears will eventually come to an end, while eternal joy will be theirs in Christ Jesus forever and ever. 

3. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:2-3

   
   

4. And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

   
   

   • When going through trails, We should look to Jesus as our Prime Example. We are to keep our eyes on Him and not give up. There is an eternity of joy awaiting all those who believe in Jesus.

   
   

   • Jus' keep on keepin’ on ;) Jesus will help you. Wait patiently for Him, trust Him, and He will act (Psalm 37). Our Father knows best.