“If his sons forsake my law
and do not walk in my judgments,
if they break my statutes
and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod,
and their iniquity with stripes.
Nevertheless, my loving-kindness
I will not utterly take from him,
nor allow MY FAITHFULNESS to fail.”
Psalm 89:30-33

God loves us just as we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way.

“For whom the Lord LOVES he chastens,
and scourges every son whom he receives.”
Hebrews 16:6

He will chastise his people, the ones he loves, but he will not forget his mercy, and his faithfulness will be evident throughout.

When God chastises you, do not think he has abandoned you. He hasn’t. His chastisement is always purposed for your GOOD, for your repentance, for your growth, for your maturity. Chastisement only lasts as long as necessary, and in the chastisement you will yet see his mercy, you will see his fingerprints all over the story as he walks WITH YOU through it.

When you come out of the period of chastisement, he will lavish you with his manifest comfort and assure you of his love for you. He has said, “I will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

“I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
and that IN FAITHFULNESS you have afflicted me.”
Psalm 119:75

Take courage and surrender willingly to the one who loves you with all his heart.