Discipline

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful at the moment. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

Recently I was reading the thoughts of my friends regarding this verse on a text thread. My thoughts turned toward the root meaning of the word discipline. The Latin from which it comes, discipulus, means pupil, student, or follower. The penitential/punitive shades of meaning showed up in the 11th and 12th centuries. So, my thoughts went to being schooled, taught. The idea following that was specifically being taught who I am. It seems to me that a person needs to be taught how to cooperate with their divine design—to be who God created them to be. This world can teach us falsehoods about who we are, and the main way to dispel those is by a relationship with The Truth, Jesus. He knows us best and can correct our misconceptions and false beliefs around our identities.

Oddly, however, most of those lie busters are beautiful words and pictures rather than the punishing, harsh words most of us associate with that later meaning of discipline. Many, many times in prayer appointments, the main lie is “I am not enough” or “I am not worthy.” Week in and week out, I hear Jesus refute these lies and replace them with beautiful words. It is obvious that He deeply loves those we are praying with, who are children of God. It’s not uncommon to hear from Jesus, “You are more than enough.” Or sometimes people we pray with get pictures of being filled with light and radiating His Presence. 

So how could those words/pictures be the “painful for a moment” words of our scripture? Actually, the people receiving prayer are sometimes incredulous that Jesus said those things, brought those lovely pictures to mind. They are actually uncomfortable. Oftentimes they will think they’ve been wrong—they couldn’t be hearing correctly. They look sheepish and are hesitant to even say those ideas. It takes them time to absorb and appropriate these new truths. Having our souls disciplined, taught to conform to His radiant truth about who we are, can be disconcerting. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable because it is unfamiliar, not because it is harsh. 

I’m not saying that Jesus doesn’t bring words of correction, and sometimes those words can be sobering, but I have only heard them rarely. He seems to prefer telling people who they really are rather than what they are doing wrong. How could Jesus’ beautiful words or pictures affect your perception of yourself? What benefit might that have, not only for yourself, but others, too? Take some time to ask him, “Jesus, who do You say I am?” And even if His answers are a bit uncomfortable because they’re unfamiliar, ask Him to help you appropriate them, and watch what happens. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when you do!