Hebrews 12:5-6
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
We were never promised an easy life as a Christian. Periods of trouble, difficulty, sadness, illness, and disappointment come to everyone. We are once again encouraged to keep going. The words, “the Lord disciplines those he loves” is a direct quote from Proverbs 3:12 that the writer uses to strengthen the idea that suffering, should we be open to God, can be the means through which He refines us. When God comes into the heart of suffering, faith and wisdom grow, and we mature in unexpected ways with an ever deepening acknowledgment of our dependence on Him. This in turn forms us into better servants of the gospel, ministering to others with wisdom and understanding born in the grace of God and from the hardships we have endured.
Lord be in my life at all times so that I might rest in your presence and call upon you for encouragement when I am buffeted by the storms of life. Help me to remember that you are with me always.
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