Daily Devotional

A Ministry of the Kerwin Baptist Church

March 29, 2018

by Pastor Hawtree

I AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE:

TO PROVIDE GRACE DURING GRIEF

 

Lamentations 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: 32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

 

Sometimes discipline is necessary. Let me remind us of these verses:

Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?   8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

The first thought is an encouraging one, that when God disciplines us, it will not be forever. It may feel like it, and it may take longer because of our stubbornness, but God will not put on us “more than we can bear”. “The Lord will not cast off forever.”

I do find the next two verses very interesting and extremely personal. Think about this statement, “Though He cause grief, yet will he have compassion”. What a personal statement. Even more specific, what a “parental” statement. God the Father is acknowledging that although He must, at times, discipline His children; God will still always have compassion for us. There are occasions where grief may come to our life, but if it comes as a result of God’s purpose, it is for our good. God is trying to encourage us here. Yes child, grief may be necessary, but I still feel compassion, and have a multitude of mercies available. After all, the chastisement is proof that we are God’s children.

The most personal is verse thirty three. “He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.” God is lovingly, and meekly letting us know that He may have to allow difficult things in our life, but He does not enjoy it. God doesn’t do it “willingly”. God would rather love you back to where you need to be, and I am sure He has been trying to. is His “last resort”.

I do not love disciplining my three sons, but I love them enough to discipline them. One thing we need to get beyond right now is this: People are sometimes convinced that much grief has come into their life because God was picking on them, and that somehow God was enjoying ruining their lives. As if God gets some sick satisfaction from your pain. That is simply “Satanic” thinking. That sounds exactly like Satan’s lie to Eve in the garden. Most grief in our life is caused by us, not God. But even the discipline that God must do to us, He makes it very clear that He does not enjoy it in the least bit. In fact it breaks his heart.

SOMETIMES DISCIPLINE IS NECESSARY. WHEN IT IS, GRACE IS THERE WITH THE GRIEF.