The Lodestar

The suffering the author addresses in the Book of Hebrews is life and death. It was the persecution of the politically weak and socially insignificant minority of Christians by the imperial powers. Their property was confiscated, many of them were arrested and imprisoned, and some were even physically tortured.

The writer of this epistle encourages them to hang on! To endure it and endure it more. The writer said, you are suffering, but you are still alive, so go ahead suffering until death! “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Heb 12:4).

The secret of enduring pain and suffering is to process them not as punishment but as God’s discipline. Although discipline and punishment may sound synonymous in English, they are not strictly the same. Punishment may lead us to feel remorse, guilt, and even shame about our actions. We can endure the pain of punishment if we accept our part. However, sometimes we suffer for reasons that are not of our own. We may call it innocent suffering, or at least the pain for which we have no explanation. How do we process such situations?

The difference between discipline and punishment is evident. Punishment assumes that a wrong has been committed. It is often the natural consequence of the mistake; every wrong act must be punished to stop it from repeating or warn others not to do the same.

However, discipline is not punishment. Discipline is a pedagogical method because it trains a person rather than punishes them. Discipline equips a person, sometimes ironically, to face worse situations. Thus, it becomes easier when suffering is viewed as preparation for enduring life's more challenging realities.

I once met a young man carrying a heavy backpack filled with heavy rocks. Every day, he adds more stones to make it heavier than the previous day and walks longer carrying it. He was doing some strength training. To develop his own strength, he endures more pain.

Discipline becomes more enjoyable when we realise who is behind it. Our earthly parents discipline us. Though the discipline is painful, we still “respected them”, knowing the purpose of their action was our good. So, the Bible asks, “Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits land live?” (Heb 12:9).

God leads us through pain and suffering out of his fatherly concern for us. Discipline is tolerable since it is motivated by God’s fatherly love. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Heb 12:6).

Take heart today if you are facing suffering or trials—know that God’s discipline is an expression of his deep love and a training ground to build strength for greater challenges ahead. Rather than seeing your pain as punishment, embrace it as a gift from the Father who desires your growth and maturity.

(To receive these devotionals daily on WhatsApp, click here.)