Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!

God loves you. He loves me too. Love means that ultimately, he wants us to have the most fulfilling lives possible. This includes our temporary life here on earth and our “forever life” afterwards.

When I was a kid I was taught to:
1) Say please and thank you,
2) Apologize when I had hurt someone or done something wrong,
3) Eat my vegetables before I got dessert. and
4) Be a man of my word — be honest.

Each of these lessons involved discipline and at the time, as a kid, I didn’t really think that I needed this discipline. But I trusted God and my parents in the end to do what is best. Sometimes love looks like discipline. Other times it is a hug, a gift, or maybe fun things.

If God didn’t care about us, he might let us do whatever we want to do, or end our lives in judgement. But he does care. He cares about you and me soooo much he sent his Son on the ultimate rescue mission, to save us.

So discipline is a part of the process. Hardships are part of the plan. Spiritual training God-style is challenging. It’s like he is recruiting us into his Elite Spiritual Forces. The question is: Will I accept and thrive in challenges with his help?

Lord, (dare I say) thank you for the hardships and challenges in my life. I know you have good plans for me and your plans are far better than mine. Sustain me with your Word and prayer and fill me with your Spirit to see and act in life as you would. Help me to look each day for opportunities to serve you no matter what the day brings.