The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“One who loves discipline loves knowledge, but one who hates rebuke is stupid.”

—Proverbs 12:1

None of us like it when someone brings attention to our mistakes, faults, or bad behavior. It doesn’t feel good to know we’ve done something wrong or hurt someone.

But if we’re wise, we will listen to correction humbly and with the purpose of trying to learn and grow. When correction comes our way, it’s easy to react emotionally because it hurts our pride, but as we mature, the less defensive we will become when our faults and flaws are pointed out.

Our focus on feeling or looking right decreases while our focus on truly acting and being right according to God’s Word increases. 

However, it’s also good to remember that not all correction is founded on truth, and not everyone who corrects is speaking in love even if they are speaking truth. We need to be discerning in order to determine if the correction is valid. If it’s coming from a wise friend or mentor who loves us, we need to be able to hear and accept the true correction without taking offense in our hearts.

Taking some time to process correction from others before responding can help us learn to react calmly and wisely instead of responding out of hurt feelings or shame. That can even mean saying we need some time to think and stepping away from the conversation in the moment. It may mean taking those words to another godly, trusted friend and asking for insight. 

As iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17), the process of being shaped is difficult and painful, but without it, we will not become what God has intended us to be.

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