Experiencing God's Discipline

I had a football coach who had hands the size of catcher’s mitts. When we got out of line, he would stand in front of us and place his hands on our shoulders. As he rebuked us, he would begin to squeeze our shoulders. When he did that to me, I could hardly keep standing.

During my days in seminary, I went through a difficult period. I went to one of my professors, Dr. John Gerstner, for counsel. When I told him what I was experiencing, he made the simple comment, “The Lord’s hand is heavy on you right now.” I immediately thought of my football coach. I had vivid memories of a heavy hand on me.

When God puts His heavy hand on me, it hurts far worse than any punishment wrought by my football coach. This is not to suggest that God is “heavy handed” in the pejorative sense. But His hand of discipline can be heavy indeed. It would be far worse, of course, if I screamed at Him, “Take Your hands off me!” . . . and He did. If God ever took His hands off us, we would perish in an instant.