A Word of Encouragement

April 20, 2026

PA088 - Tropical Sunset

Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;

When my Dad would discipline me, as a child. he would sometimes say, "This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you." My thoughts then were, "Then don't spank me," because I didn't understand what he meant. As I grew up and began to understand God's relationship with humanity - those He created - I began to understand what Dad meant.

Solomon wrote, "Whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:12) Discipline is a way to encourage good behavior. Just before he died, - after they had wandered for forty years in the desert - Moses said to the Children of Israel,

You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not... You are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.

Deuteronomy 8:2 & 5-6

God was teaching them to trust and obey Him. (See verses 3 & 4)

Although he didn't truly understand God's discipline, and thought He was punishing Job, Eliphaz said to Job, "Behold, happy is the person whom God disciplines, so do not reject the discipline of the Almighty." (Job 5:17) God was not 'punishing Job, He was using Satan to test and develop Job's faith in God.

We don't always understand God's discipline; and we might just think He is angry with us (and sometimes He is), but after a period of hardship in Israel, David wrote,

His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
	Psalm 30:5

Writing about how the discipline of our parents compares to Gods discipline, in Hebrews we read,

For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
	Hebrews 12:11

Sorrow is temporary, Joy is eternal.

Avi Ad - Eternal Father - Thank You for loving me and caring about my behavior. Help me walk the way You want me to walk.

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have untied my sackcloth and encircled me with joy, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
	Psalm 30:11-12

Joy is eternal,