Molding the man

Sean, my 29 year old son, took the pulpit at the Assembly in my place last Sunday. In his opening remarks, he joked about the various ways I made his life miserable during his teen years. He poked fun at my unyielding demand that he be home by curfew with the often repeated statement that "nothing good happens after midnight." He told about how, when he was 14 years old, I started giving him a clothing allowance of $12 each week with the admonition that he plan wisely to make the money stretch to cover underwear to overcoats! He remembered the infamous mileage charge he had to pay for using my car which made a trip to the neighboring city for a Coke a $20 expense. (I think he exaggerated that one!) But then he told how that he now considers those things "blessings" which taught him the value of discipline and the importance of learning to budget his resources.

Did I make mistakes as a Dad? Too many to recall! Sometimes I remember a harsh word, a mis-judgment, or a failure to recognize some effort made by my kids and my heart aches. Did they only feel the discipline or did they know my love? I wish that time allowed for some do-overs. What I would give to have some of those moments back, to live them with the wisdom that I now possess. What I know is that I loved them with my whole heart and would have gladly died for them if that were demanded of me. I tried to be the best Dad I could be. My focus was not on their comfort or even on mine; it was on developing mature, self-sufficient godly men and women who would be useful to the Kingdom of God.

The Bible says that God is our Father and that He, too, focuses less on making us comfortable than He does on molding us for maturity. And, the best part? He never makes a mistake! Take a look.

"Have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children? My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects. God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God." (Hebrews 12:5-11, The Message)

Believer, does it feel like God is making your life miserable?
Does it seem that He says, "No!" more frequently than "Yes!"?

I know that feeling. Sometimes I even pray, "Father, could you let up just a little?" I think He's pushing me too hard, asking me for what I could never produce, making me do the impossible. But, He isn't! Our perfect Father knows our capabilities, sees now the person we will become, and purposes to lead us into those paths that will make us the people who best serve Him. It's not all hard, either! My kids remember that alongside of the tough discipline of our home, there were liberal amounts of laughter. Our dinner table conversations were sometimes out of control, legendary even in their outrageousness; so much so, that their friends coveted the experience of being at the Scott's house for dinner. God has moments of great joy planned for us as well.

So, trust Him. Center yourself in His love and obey Him.
"It pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God."
____________________________

All things work for our good,
Though sometimes we can't see how they could.
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth,
Our Father knows what's best for us;
His ways are not our own.
So when your pathway grows dim,
And you just can't see Him,
Remember, you're never alone.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.

He sees the master plan.
He holds the future in His hands.
So don't live as those who have no hope;
All our hope is found in Him.
We see the present clearly,
But He sees the first and the last.
And like a tapestry,
He's weaving you and me
To someday be just like Him.

God is too wise to be mistaken.
God is too good to be unkind.
So when you don't understand,
When you don't see His plan,
When you can't trace His hand,
Trust His heart.

Trust His Heart
Carswell, Mason© 1989 Dayspring Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / May Sun Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) / Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) / Causing Change Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055