He has Torn, that He may Heal
I am convinced that God seldom punishes us to destroy us. That is a last resort. Most of the time, He tears us so He can heal us, and He strikes us that He can bind us up. (Hosea 6:1) God is a compassionate Father to us. He is like an earthly father, who spanks his children and then takes them in his arms to heal their hurts and teach them. God always wants us to return to Him when He chastens us, so He can show us the right way to go.
What is your view of God? Do you think He is an angry, vengeful tyrant? Nothing could be farther from the truth. He takes no pleasure in hurting us. He longs to heal us and bind us up after the pain, because He loves us, and He wants a relationship with us that is real and personal. The pain is to get our attention when we are moving away from Him and His will in a way that will be harmful to us and others. His pain is redemptive, not punitive. God wants to restore us, so we are strong and able to follow Him well. Please, do not hold a grudge against God for things that have happened to you. Don't think that He just wants to harm you or your family. He is waiting with open arms for you to return. He has a ring, a robe, and a fattened calf for a great party, when the prodigal comes home. That is the correct view of God, when we see His heart of love clearly.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hosea 9-11.
What is your view of God? Do you think He is an angry, vengeful tyrant? Nothing could be farther from the truth. He takes no pleasure in hurting us. He longs to heal us and bind us up after the pain, because He loves us, and He wants a relationship with us that is real and personal. The pain is to get our attention when we are moving away from Him and His will in a way that will be harmful to us and others. His pain is redemptive, not punitive. God wants to restore us, so we are strong and able to follow Him well. Please, do not hold a grudge against God for things that have happened to you. Don't think that He just wants to harm you or your family. He is waiting with open arms for you to return. He has a ring, a robe, and a fattened calf for a great party, when the prodigal comes home. That is the correct view of God, when we see His heart of love clearly.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Hosea 9-11.