Grace in Punishment

Passage – For it is a grace when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment. For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor. 1 Peter 2:19-20

Restated in my own words – It means nothing if you suffer for your own wrongdoing. If you suffer under punishment for doing right, because of your relationship with God, He looks on you with favor and gives you grace to bear it.

Application to my own life – I have done a lot of things wrong in my life, but really the things that stick out most in my mind is when I was punished but didn’t do anything wrong. Like my mom’s spanking me with an extension cord after my sister walked into me with a cookie sheet and bloodied my nose. Or when my husband would accused me of doing something I really didn’t do and go off in a fit of anger.

Most recently, I had allegations made up against me that weren’t true by my coworkers. I can take ownership of the things I do wrong, but there was a lot said that wasn’t true and a lot of behaviors that came out showing true light to the integrity of others. It hurt my pride, I admit but God really did give me the grace to walk through that. I saw His favor in my life and honestly I would not take back that time that I had with Him. He was in control even when my world felt like it was coming down around me as I learned more of what was said about me.

YOur response back to God – It is easy Lord to set aside the grace You have shown to me. I am amazed when I really paused to think about all You have done in in my life, for me and through me. My life is a testimony of Your grace. Thank You for all that You have seen me through, I praise You for Your favor and grace. In Jesus name Amen