God the Father, or God the Taskmaster?

Knowing that God is a Father who loves us and wants relationship with us can take time to be really believed in our hearts. For some of us, our perception and understanding of God may have been distorted by our own experiences of father figures growing up.

Being disciplined as a child by a parent who was angry, or raised their voice a lot, can leave a deep imprint. We may inadvertently believe, even subconsciously, that our heavenly Father gets angry with us in the same way.

Hebrews 12:6 tells us that the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son. This gives us an assurance that the Lord loves us and disciplines us from a place of love, not to pour His anger on us.

Verse 11 in the same chapter states, ‘No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening -it’s painful! But afterwards there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way’. What a promise! God brings us through situations which may be painful, but as we look to Him and surrender to His purposes, the fruit of peace and a harvest of righteousness results.

Throughout Scripture we read that the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and rich in love (Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Psalm 86:15, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17). Until we get a true depiction of our heavenly Father, we can be afraid of experiencing God’s anger if we don’t get everything right as a Christian.

We may wrongly think He is punishing us when things don’t go the way we think they should, or in accordance with what we have prayed. The Lord is for you, and His love for you is much greater than you dare to believe. Psalm 139 tells us that His thoughts about each child of His would outnumber the grains of sand.

When life goes in a different path from what you are expecting, choose to trust Him. Romans 8:28 (AMP) says, ‘And we know with great confidence, that God who is deeply concerned about us, causes all things to work together as a plan, for good for those who love God.’

He is a good, good father, and not a harsh taskmaster waiting to punish you when you stumble. Whatever you are walking through right now, your heavenly Father is looking out for you. He’s got your back. In His great love, He is working all things together in your life, for His glory and your good.