God’s Loving Discipline in Providence (Chapter 5, Paragraph 5)

“The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season His own children to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts…”

The Confession affirms a difficult but deeply biblical reality: God’s children are not exempt from trial. In fact, sometimes God intentionally allows His people to experience spiritual drought, temptation, or the bitter consequences of their own sin. Not because He stops loving them—but because He is doing a deeper work.

This truth is seen throughout Scripture. David, though beloved by God, fell into grievous sin and experienced divine chastening (Psalm 51). Peter, though chosen by Christ, denied Him and wept bitterly. But in both cases, God used these experiences to purify, not to destroy.

“…to chastise them for their former sins…”

God’s discipline is never revenge—it is restorative. Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves.” Like a wise and good father, God corrects His children to lead them to repentance. His goal is not punishment for punishment’s sake, but transformation into holiness.

When we feel the weight of our sin or the pain of consequences, we must not think God has abandoned us. Rather, we must remember: this is love at work. He is making us holy.

“…or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts…”

Sometimes God exposes what lies beneath the surface of our hearts. He allows us to fall or struggle so that we will see how weak, proud, or self-reliant we have become. This painful revelation is grace, not cruelty.

It reminds us how desperately we need His Spirit every moment. Trials uncover the hidden idols we’ve trusted, the self-confidence we’ve built, and the sin we’ve ignored. God does not do this to shame us, but to heal us.

“…that they may be humbled…”

Humility is one of the great goals of God’s providential discipline. When we are brought low, we remember that we are creatures—not sovereigns. We see our need for mercy. We stop boasting in the flesh and cling to Christ.

James 4:6 tells us that God gives grace to the humble. If providence brings us low, it is to raise us up again in grace.

“…and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support upon Himself…”

This is one of the most precious purposes of discipline: dependence. God is not trying to destroy your confidence altogether—but to transfer it from self to Him. Trials break our pride so that we might walk closely with Him, resting in His strength, not our own.

Paul learned this through his “thorn in the flesh.” God said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). In trial, we discover how faithful and strong our God truly is.

“…and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin…”

Discipline is preventative as well as corrective. When we’ve tasted the bitterness of sin’s consequences, we become more alert to avoid it in the future. We begin to pray more fervently, resist more carefully, and cling more tightly to Christ.

“…and for sundry other just and holy ends.”

God’s purposes are always just and holy, even if we do not understand them. He may use affliction to prepare us for ministry, to test our faith, to refine our character, or to bring others to the gospel through our witness. We may not see it now—but we can trust that nothing is wasted in the hands of our wise Redeemer.

Application for the Believer:

When you walk through hardship, do not assume God is far from you. He may, in love, be drawing you nearer. Discipline is painful, but it is proof of sonship (Heb. 12:8). Your trials are not signs of God’s absence, but of His fatherly care. Ask what He is teaching you. Repent if needed. Rest in His grace. And trust that even the dark valleys are part of His providence—designed not to destroy you, but to make you more like Christ. The Father who wounds also heals. And in the end, you will praise Him for both.