When Obedience Hurts

October 6, 2021·Elizabeth Ewens

In our Pause reading this week, we read Hebrews, chapter 5. Verses 7-9 in this chapter have intrigued me for my whole adult life. This is one of those amazingly insightful truths that has encouraged and comforted me more times than I can count. I pray it also encourages you and helps bring insight in those moments, days, and seasons when we may not understand what God is doing in our life.

^“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions, with fervent cries and tears, to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him…” (Hebrews 5:7-9, NIV).

I find it interesting that Paul mentions, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth,” as if to remind us that Jesus was God before He came to earth. So, keep that in mind when you read the rest of this verse. Jesus prayed and petitioned His Heavenly Father and, in this instance, He prayed fervently and cried. He knew He was going to Calvary, and I suspect He knew the pain and torture He was going to experience. Yet, as Jesus prayed and cried, He submitted His prayers to His Father. His flesh was bowing to His spirit, so God’s will would be accomplished. God heard the cries of His Son, yet He had to allow His Son to suffer, so Jesus could fulfill His purpose on earth, dying for you and me.

This is such a touching picture of a Father. How many times have moms and dads needed to discipline their child, so the child could learn to obey? By inflicting pain (with a spanking, time-out, withholding a privilege, etc.), the parent is trying to help the child learn that doing the right thing or doing the wrong thing is a choice, and both choices have consequences. So, parents, be encouraged! Even when your heart is breaking and tears might be leaking from your eyes because you feel your child’s struggle, you take courage and be strong to help your child “learn obedience by the things they suffer.” And remember that God had the same parent experience.

Four truths I see in Hebrews 5:7-9:

We must pray, and sometimes it is with “fervent cries and tears.”
When we pray, we submit our prayers to the will of our Father.
We learn obedience through suffering.
No one is exempt from this process.

It has intrigued me that no one, not even Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is exempt from suffering in the process of learning to obey. And I can testify that God’s discipline always comes from unconditional love and is always for our good. Always. God never disciplines out of anger. Always love. I can submit to that.

Pastor Elizabeth Ewens