A funny thing happened on the way back from the golf club in the pouring rain. For some reason I was thinking about how fearful I feel about getting things wrong. God asked me why I felt fearful and I immediately responded with ‘I don’t want you to tell me off.’ God laughed and I then realised rather shame facedly that God does not tell us off but rather he wants to set us free.
He wants to use very one of our failures to help us walk in ever increasing freedom. Every time we make a mistake, say a wrong word, show a wrong attitude, do something wrong or don’t do something we should, God highlights it not to smack us but to show us how to hold our tongue, quickly forgive, say the right thing, show the right attitude and do the right thing.
God knows we will get things wrong; it is no surprise nor is it a disappointment to him. It may disappoint us but it doesn’t disappoint God. God looks at it as another step along the path of life. Unfortunately most of us have awful memories of being severely told off when we made mistakes. God is not like that. He wants us to learn until we no longer make that mistake.
The Bible assures us that God brings his discipline to those he loves but not as an exasperated father but as a loving father who wants to help us walk free from sin (Proverbs 3: 12). It is an act of kindness to bring discipline to children. The write of Hebrews says, ‘No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.’ (Hebrews 12: 11)
Sin makes us hide but God wants us free to walk in the light as he is in the light not just with him but with others. So if like me you fear getting things wrong, or fear God’s discipline, take heart and remember God loves you and is guiding you into better things as any loving Father would.
