That’s how God punishes His child.
Oh, don’t get me wrong — it seems like a long time to the recipient of God’s correction. God’s moments seem like my eternities! But they are still mere moments in the sweeping scope of the everlasting.
How I forget that I deserve unending chastisement!
How I neglect to remember the everlasting kindness and great mercy that is my lot!
So let me not complain in the moment. Not only will it pass for the penitent, repentant heart, but the Lord is present in it.
When I am the one in the moment, this is all one huge, hard saying. If it is so to you now, may it also be a comfort and assurance to you.
By God’s grace, let us endure the darkness of our “moments,” believing that He will bring us forth to the light.
Now, here’s what I read that triggered that:
The Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion. -Lamentations 3:31,32
Fear thou not, . . . saith the Lord: for I am with thee; I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure. -Jeremiah 46:28
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. -Isaiah 54:7,8,10,11
I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. -Micah 7:9
Daily Light on the Daily Path | August 12, Morning
“Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion”!