¹¹ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

One of the truest and most obvious statements to be made is this one: “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful …” Which is why self-discipline is so difficult to achieve by oneself; none of us naturally desires that which is uncomfortable, which is “sorrowful.” Children need the external discipline to mold their inner character. Professional athletes have coaches and personal trainers to help push them to higher levels of skill and competency. And Christians (as adult as we may see ourselves), consistently need the discipline of the Father to help us continuously develop our inner character and spiritual life.

Even the world sees the value or need for self-control. Socrates considered it a cardinal virtue. But it is the Bible that tells us how impossible it is to achieve self-control, and therefore why we need discipline from God to help us grow in this area of life. If self-control were easy, then we could just set our minds to live the Christlike life, and it would happen. But that simply won’t happen, if left to ourselves.

The Greek word for self-control comes from the concept of power, as in having power or dominance over one’s self. It includes, as well, the idea of steadfastness. James puts to rest any false notion we might have of achievement when he tells us it is impossible, for example, to control the tongue. “No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).

The only way self-control can occur and increase in us is by the Spirit’s work through discipline. And this requires our cooperation as we “keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). We accept the Lord’s discipline rather than resist it through griping, complaining, fretting or rebelling.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is … self-control” (Gal 5:22–23). The qualifications for spiritual leadership include “self-control” (Titus 1:8). Overall spiritual growth requires adding or applying “self-control” to our moral behavior and knowledge (2 Pet 1:5–6).

When God’s discipline is combined with our willing acceptance of it, then we are “trained by it,” we learn, we grow, we become more self-controlled; our self-discipline in righteous living habits therefore increases. There will now abide an inner peace, for we are living in accord with His reason for creating us.

Lord, help me to see in Your discipline, the loving goal of helping me to improve in righteous living. That is a joy that I desire.