One Man's Thoughts

“Afflictions come not by casualty, but by counsel. By this council of God they are ordained as means of spiritual good to saints…they are God’s workmen upon our hearts, to pull down pride and carnal security of them; and being so, their nature is changed; they are turned into blessing and benefits,” (41). (John Flavel, Keeping the Heart)

A lot of times, I hear Christian’s say, “I do not believe in coincidences,” when referring to the Lord’s direction and/or His blessings. But what about when trouble comes to us? Are those also not coincidences? Is our God a God of blessings only? Is He not also a Father who takes joy in disciplining His sons? And should not His sons weather such troubles in a spirit of prayer and trust towards the Father as when the sun is shining and life is grand? We can take solace in the Lord’s discipline knowing that “to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness,” (Hebrews 12:11).

Notice how I did not say the Father takes joy in beating us down and holding our failures over our heads. Some of us associate the word ‘discipline’ with this negative image because that is how our earthly fathers presented discipline to us. I would like to offer that our Heavenly Father does not use discipline in this way. Indeed, many earthly fathers use discipline towards their sons so as to degrade their child’s position and treat them as if they were no better than slaves and not as actual sons. Slaves around whom these fathers can feel better about their own self hatred and self loathing. Sons remind them of the fathers they should be and are not or feel they cannot be. And so they take away the sonship with their discipline so they may bot feel the shame of their inadequacy. If they have slaves, they can feel better about being harsh taskmasters. If they have sons, they must discipline in in ways that reflect their hearts, and their hearts are too broken to give discipline that builds up sonship.

Our heavenly Father has a heart only of love. His discipline might seem harsh in the moment, but we may rejoice when trouble comes because we have been counted worthy not as slaves but to be tested as sons. The first part of Hebrews 12:11, says that “for the moment all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful.” It is true, Jesus said, “in the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world,” (John 6:33).

Flavel seemed to think that troubles were ordered by God and not by chance, to bring about awareness of pride in our lives that might hinder our sonship with the Father’s heart. The next time the car breaks down, or extra bills come, or a friendship fades, or opportunities seem to pass you by, do not let your hearts turn hard. Turn to the Father, not as a slave of fear, but as a son and pray, “Search me God, and know my heart; put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way,” (Psalm 139:23-24).