The Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. —Hebrews 12:6
Part of a father’s responsibility is to discipline his children. All discipline seems painful, and none of it is pleasant—but, when done rightly, lovingly, and wisely, it is for the child’s good.
When we are tempted to not listen to God or to stray, he mercifully grabs our attention so that we will not leap out of his arms. Pain and suffering are a means of grace to keep us tethered to God. A rebuke from God—whether through his word, his children or the circumstances he permits in our lives—is a great blessing. It shows that God is not indifferent to us.
He is not content with us looking more like our natural selves than our spiritual selves. So he uses our sin, suffering, and pain as a warning to draw our attention to his fatherly care and to make us more like his perfect Son.1
1 Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness, 2021, Blair Linne
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Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness by Blair Linne, ©2021 by The Good Book Company, used by kind permission. www.thegoodbook.com
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
Is there an area of life where God is trying to get your attention? How might He be using this situation for your good?