Prayer In A Time Of Chastening

"Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Your arrows have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.
My wounds fester and are loathsome
    because of my sinful folly.
I am bowed down and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.
My back is filled with searing pain;
    there is no health in my body.
I am feeble and utterly crushed;
    I groan in anguish of heart.
All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes." - Psalm 38:1-10
 
There are many reasons for suffering. We live in a sinful world, and often we are affected by the sin around us. Because death comes to us all, we suffer the way of trials, disease, and death. We also suffer for the sins of others.  For example, we are heartbroken over the sins of our children.  We often are affected by crime, theft, and greed. Sometimes, however suffering comes from our own sin. For the believer, this is called chastening or the disciplining hand of God.
 
In this Psalm, the psalmist is experiencing pain (vv.7-8) and personal guilt (v. 4) that is overwhelming. The psalmist never blames God but confesses his sin (v.3) and feels the weight of his guilt. He cries out for forgiveness and reconciliation with God. God’s discipline is often painful. We tend to feel that God is nowhere to be found- that this discipline is more than we can endure.
 
However, know that when God chastens you, it proves two things: 1) You are His child, and a good parent disciplines their children. The person who commits sin and experiences no discipline is one who should be concerned with his spiritual state. 2) God loves you. Hebrews 12:6 states, “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” Just as wise parents discipline their child because they want their child to avoid a destructive lifestyle, so your heavenly Father disciplines you. It’s times like these when we need to cry out to God for forgiveness. It is then that our relationship will be restored and our lives set on the right path.