TUESDAY May 12, 2026

Loving Discipline

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.
Hebrews 12:11

Chastening is not joyful or pleasant, but it is necessary. It is something we all have to go through, and it can be very painful. As children, when we were spanked by our parents, it hurt. Some of us may have tried to be clever. Knowing we were going to be spanked, we padded the area so it would not hurt as much. Some children scream so loudly before parents have even touched them because they know it is going to hurt. They think it might help stop the discipline or at least help it to be over quickly.

Some children are submissive; they yield to spanking, knowing that they deserve the punishment. My late wife Sharon would tell my boys when they did wrong, “You deserve to be punished, but I am going to show you mercy.” Then she would bundle them in the car and take them to get an ice cream! She wanted them to know the character of God––mercy.

In today’s society, psychologists speak against spanking; but when applied properly, it benefits children and parents greatly. Take into consideration that parents are never to discipline a child in anger:

Proverbs 22:15 AMP: Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.

Proverbs 29:17: Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.

Proverbs 13:24: He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

It is beneficial to explain to a child why they are getting spanked and afterwards to reassure them of your love. Love is key in any disciplinary action taken.

When God chastens us, what are the benefits? Even though painful, it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Isn’t that beautiful? God loves us enough to discipline us!

Love precedes discipline
~John Owen~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!