Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. Psalm 94:12
How does discipline bring joy? When I received discipline as a child, I don’t remember experiencing any joy. But, yet, there was learning and refinement in that discipline and it was likely that I would not repeat the undesirable behavior. So, perhaps, the joy is in the lesson learned and the training received. God, as the loving Parent, provides discipline in order to change our behavior and to help us to begin to resemble Him. It seems that we can only become a disciple when we submit to the refinement of God’s perfect discipline. And, as a disciple of Jesus, we experience His perfect joy in our lives. So, rejoice in God’s loving discipline knowing that He is providing instruction on how to become His disciple.