For Those With Ears to Hear

Not every painful thing is a disaster.
Sometimes… it’s discipline.

And yes, that makes people squirm.
We want a God who soothes us, not one who sanctifies us.

But Scripture doesn’t hold back,

“For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.”
— Hebrews 12:6

“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
— Hebrews 12:11

God doesn’t punish His children.

He trains them.

There’s a difference between wrath and refinement.
Wrath was poured out on Jesus.
What’s left for us? Refining fire.

Sometimes that fire feels like loss.
Sometimes betrayal.
Sometimes it’s unanswered prayer.

Ask Paul.

“…a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited… Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”
— 2 Corinthians 12:7–9

Paul didn’t get healing.
He got humility.
He got grace.
He got power in weakness.

That’s what discipline looks like.

Not a God who’s mad at you.
But a God who loves you too much to leave you as you are.

This is what real sons and daughters get.
Not coddling.
Not spiritual luxury.
But pruning that bears fruit (John 15:2).

If you’re suffering, ask yourself.
Is this wrath? No.
Is this random? No.
It might just be love in disguise.