“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.” — Hebrews 12:11–13

I have gone to a gym for many years now, but I occasionally tweak something in my workout routine. In fact, as I sit here today, I have a rib out of joint that is a continual focus of my attention. I keep stretching my arm over my head, and I have tried lying on the floor and leaning my knees to one side or the other in an attempt to pop the rib back into place. This is not the first time I have had this problem with a rib, but each time it occurs, I can hardly think of anything but how good it will feel when the rib goes back into place.

This is not unlike our lives when they are spiritually out of joint. At such times, we are constantly fidgeting and straining to fix what is dislocated. But many times only the Master’s touch will bring relief, and that touch sometimes comes in the form of discipline.

When it is time for parents to apply the “board of education” to the “seat of understanding,” they often tell their children it will hurt them more than it will hurt the kids. As a dad, I have certainly found that statement to be true. In a similar fashion, God does not discipline us just for discipline’s sake, as though He enjoys it. He is trying to reset the dislocated aspects of our walks so that relief can come to our weakened hands and feeble knees. He wants to heal whatever is hindering our walks with Him and put it back into place so that it is no longer dislocated.

Are you feeling a little discomfort in your walk with God? Maybe He needs to pop something back into place. I can assure you, that it is better to get things right before moving ahead because if you try to continue anyway, nothing but pain awaits. So though no chastening is joyful or pleasant, the sooner you confess and repent from any disjointedness, the easier and less painful it will be to pop it back into place!

Excerpt from “Body Builders” now available on Amazon.

BARRY STAGNER