Something to take home:
God is good and can be trusted no matter what we face in this life. Even when the discipline comes from His very hand, He is good.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (NIV),11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Life his hard, but God is always good. He can be trusted, especially when times are tough. He is life, He is love, and in Him, there is true joy no matter the circumstances of life. No matter what situation you may find yourself in, rather than cursing God for what you might consider unfair, try trusting God through the difficulties you face. We do well to remember the Psalmist’s words as he writes:
Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT),4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.
And, one final word on God’s goodness through discipline. The writer of the New Testament book, Hebrews, writes…
Hebrews 12:7-11 (NLT),7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Key Point: “Even when everything in life seems hopeless, God is good.”