The Paradox of Discipline

“The Pain of Discipline or the Pain of Regret” was the motto on the back of my daughter’s t-shirt. These catchy slogans don many of the 60+ shirts she’s collected from all kinds of sports participation over the years. I’ve learned not to question when another one is brought home; I just fold it up with the rest of the laundry and marvel how anyone can “need” so many of the same clothing item!

Discipline and pain are commonly partnered. We’ve come to understand that the concept of regulating and restricting our lives (as is the M.O. of discipline) often involves intense self denial and restraint.

And so we typically view it with distaste.

Perhaps wrinkle our nose in disdain or attempt to wiggle out of situations we may be required to exercise it.

(Did I hear the word exercise?….there’s a discipline activity that is likely to be avoided by many…but I digress.)

I’d like to introduce in this paradigm of unpleasantness that there is a very upside to discipline that rarely gets exposed.

Or explained.

Or celebrated.

And it should. Because its dividends are so rich!

Have you come to understand and perhaps experience the paradox that in much of life discipline actually frees you? That it is precisely discipline that uniquely enables you to be/do the remarkable and desired? And that without the discipline you’d be unable to do it at all!

Consider:

A concert pianist is free to flow his fingers over the keyboard in melodic masterpiece only because of the discipline of years of practice.

A count-on-me- in-the-clutch quarterback freely lifts his arm to pass a football which will hit his target like clockwork only because of the discipline of drills, scrimmages, conditioning, practicing and ardous workouts consistently completed over the course of his career.

A renowned heart surgeon’s fingers can only work magically, mysteriously and freely to craft his healing precision within an open chest because of the disciplined hours of study, the years of perfecting his skill, the countless conversations with other experts who have help to perfect his cardiac judgement and insight.

The freedom of these masters would not be possible to any worthwhile degree without the personal choice of persevering discipline.

For you and me non-concert pianist/quarterback/heart surgeon types, this has great ramification.

For the same principle is equally true in our everyday lives, even in the most everyday of events.

And, perhaps, most significantly, in the area of greatest importance: our spiritual lives.

One can be free from the bondage of sin’s hold, the deceitful whispers of Satan’s false promises, and the horrendous fallout from sin’s high price tag through the discipline of hiding God’s work consistently in one’s heart, and then heeding its warnings and commands.

One can be free to enjoy the pleasures of relationship to and with others, avoid the strained relationship and hurt feelings of offense through the discipline of controlling one’s tongue and training one’s mind to think first of others in selfless love, believing every scenario & seeing every person in the best possible light.

One can be free to serve God with abandon and passion, even in difficult ‘out-of-your-box’ ways, because of the discipline of poring over God’s Word and taking it at face value when it says that it is precisely in our weakness that His strength can shine!

One can be free of paranoia, of micro-managing obsessive control, and of worry when one’s disciplined practice each morning includes time in prayer, fellowship with God and commitment of one’s life & destiny to God which removes all need to ‘take care of things’ on one’s own!

Discipline is the golden pathway to great freedom.

And this has great practical application as well: To name just a couple examples, the discipline to keep my house picked up (to a reasonable degree) allows me the freedom to offer hospitality without a week's notice...and offer a place of solace, rest and organized comfort for my family.

And yes, even exercise can bring about increased energy, greater health and a more positive mood, not to mention the freedom to enjoy dessert on occasion without having to keep moving up a clothing size!

Discipline shouldn’t be a dirty word. When employed in the Spirit, it can be the channel of great glory for God.

Perhaps I should get my own t-shirt…it could read:

The Pain is worth the Gain.