I have been doing a Winter Olympics themed message series this month, and not just because the games are coming up. The idea of training fits the Christian life really well. Long before anyone competes, there is preparation, correction, discipline, and a lot of unseen work. That is often where faith is shaped too.
Hebrews 12 talks about discipline, and that word can make people uneasy. Most of us hear discipline and think punishment, or God being upset with us. But the picture Scripture gives is closer to coaching than punishment. A loving Father who disciplines His children is doing something purposeful, not something careless (Hebrews 12:5-11).
Almost everyone has had some kind of coach at some point. Sports, work, life, leadership. The challenge is finding a coach you respect and trust. A good coach takes time to understand how you are wired, what your strengths are, and where you need help. They use that knowledge to help you grow, not to tear you down.
That is what God does. God knows how we are formed. He knows our personalities, our limits, our fears, and our potential. Through the Holy Spirit, He works in our lives to help us become fully devoted followers of Christ and to accomplish the purposes He created us for. And sometimes, when we cross lines, fall into unconfessed sin, or cling to things that are not helping us, He disciplines us (Proverbs 3:11-12).
Any athlete knows that discipline is part of training. If a team does not follow the plan, there are consequences. Running laps, extra drills, getting benched. Not because the coach hates the players, but because the coach wants the team to succeed.
I learned early on that not all coaches are good coaches. I remember a ninth grade football coach telling me to run full speed into a guy who outweighed me by about thirty five pounds. He said if we were both running at the same speed, we would both go backward the same distance. That sounded fine in theory. In reality, I went flying backward like I had been hit by a freight train. That coach was also a science teacher, which makes the whole thing even more questionable.
God is not that kind of coach. He does not push without purpose or demand something without understanding the cost. A good coach cares about the person they are coaching. They want you to succeed. They are willing to correct your form, challenge your habits, and help you overcome fear, not to embarrass you, but to help you grow.
Hebrews reminds us that discipline is actually a sign of belonging. God disciplines those He loves. That means discipline is not evidence that God has turned His back on you. It is often evidence that He has not. The real question is not whether you deserve discipline, but whether you belong to Him (Hebrews 12:7-8).
When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are adopted into God’s family. He becomes our Father, and we become His children. That relationship changes everything. God is no longer distant. He is involved. He corrects because He cares (John 1:12).
I can see that clearly when I look back on my own life. When I truly committed my life to Christ in high school, God began shaping my habits in ways I did not fully understand at the time. I did not like Christian music back then, but it seemed like when I listened to Christian radio, things went better, and when I did not, they did not. Over time, God used that simple discipline to fill my mind with Scripture and solid teaching. Looking back, I can see how much I needed that foundation.
There were other moments too. I had a car that I really liked. It became more important to me than it should have. I did not set out for it to become an idol, but it did. That car just kept breaking down. One thing after another. Eventually it was gone. I sold it for parts. At the time, it was frustrating. I did not understand why it had to happen that way.
Looking back, I can see what God was doing. Cars rust away. They fall apart. My relationship with Christ did not. God removed something that was quietly getting in the way (John 15:1-2).
That is what pruning looks like. Jesus said the Father prunes the branches that bear fruit so they will bear more. Pruning never feels good in the moment, but it has a purpose.
Sometimes God disciplines by allowing consequences. Sometimes He uses hardship to expose dependence. Sometimes He brings us through wilderness seasons to build strength and endurance we would not have otherwise. Just like Olympic athletes train in extreme conditions to prepare for competition, God sometimes allows difficulty to prepare us for what is ahead (Romans 8:28).
Hebrews says no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Training always prepares you for what comes next (Hebrews 12:11).
Some of the hardest seasons of discipline in my life were actually preparation. Going back to school while working full time, serving in ministry, and raising a family was exhausting. But the discipline, structure, and endurance learned during that season were exactly what I needed later when starting a church. What felt overwhelming at the time became essential later.
Looking back has given me confidence. When new challenges come, I can remember how God carried us through earlier ones. That builds trust. God does not waste pain. He uses it. He finishes what He starts (Philippians 1:6).
If you are in a season right now that feels difficult or confusing, do not assume God has abandoned you. He may be closer than you think. He may be coaching, correcting, and strengthening you so that you can live with faith, endurance, and purpose.
God leads us like a great coach because He loves us, knows us, and wants us to live in the victory He has designed for us.
If you would like to hear the full audio message this reflection is based on, you can listen to the audio here: