None of us like being corrected. We all like to be right, and to have someone correct us can make us feel uncomfortable and even angry. The Bible says: ‘My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t get angry when he corrects you. The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in’ (Proverbs 3:11-12 NCV). When God corrects us, we should welcome it rather than despise it. It’s never a nice experience to be corrected, but we need to see the bigger picture. Correction from God isn’t punishment or criticism, it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and become more like Christ – our ultimate aim. It also shows that we’re in the privileged position of being a child of God. God corrects us out of love. Just as someone in our family, like a parent, may correct us as children, God corrects us as His children. Hebrews 12 sums it up like this: ‘So hold on through your sufferings, because they are like a father’s discipline. God is treating you as children. All children are disciplined by their fathers…God disciplines us to help us, so we can become holy as he is. We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful at the time, but later, after we have learned from it, we have peace, because we start living in the right way’ (vv.7;11 NCV). God wants us to become holy, like Him. Isn’t that amazing? He loves us so much that He wants to help transform us into holy beings. And He doesn’t angrily punish us, He gently corrects us, guides us back to the right path, and strengthens us so we can keep walking the right way.

What Now?

Next time you feel God’s correcting you, thank Him for the opportunity to learn and become more holy.