Tired Hands and Weak Knees

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.” Hebrews 12:12

There are two uses for the word “discipline.” One involves correction. As one who was somewhat of a disciplinary challenge to my mother at a young age, I am quite familiar with this definition. The other involves training—to discipline your body to run a marathon or discipline a horse for barrel racing.

The writer of Hebrews implements both uses of the word in Hebrews 12. He compares the earthy correction of our fathers to the discipline of our Heavenly Father. Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. Not all earthy fathers know how to discipline their children, but God’s discipline is always good for us. He disciplines us so that we might share in His holiness.

If you’ve ever experienced discipline, you know that it’s never enjoyable while it’s happening—it’s rather painful! But according to Hebrews, there will be a “peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Godly discipline involves both correction and training.

“So (or for this reason),” the writer says, “take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.” You may feel like your knees are weak and your hands are tired as you experience the Lord’s correction, but take courage! He is training you. And with good purpose, as revealed in the next verse, “So that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”