I’m actually referencing the devotions from yesterday’s date (from Daily Light Journal by Anne Graham Lotz 1999) The devotional is a good combination of Scriptures referring to God’s discipline (Hebrews 12:5-6) and God’s mercy (Psalms 103: 10-14)

People have a tendency to either see God as a harsh taskmaster holding a big switch in His hand, just waiting to catch us doing something wrong so He can have a good reason to thrash us; or else as a “loving” Father who showers nothing but blessings upon everyone, or at least everyone who loves and obeys Him. Scriptures paint a different picture of God. Some of the other verses in the devotional point out the balance of God’s bountiful mercy and His chastening of His children. These passages include Proverbs 3L12; Job 5L18l 1 Peter 5:6; Isaiah 48:10; and Lamentations 3:33. They point out that “He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole” and “I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” as well as, “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him”, and, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him”. The truth of the matter is, if God didn’t discipline us and/or if He always sheltered us the consequences of our choices (or harm in any form, for that matter) it would reflect a much tainted form of “love” – not the genuine love our Heavenly Father displays to us. We don’t always understand what God is doing or allowing in our lives, nor do we always appreciate it; but we can rest assured that He has only our good and welfare at heart.