However hard our struggles may be, it is important for us to realise that God's love is woven into our suffering. In the previous verses, it was the love of the Father for us that sent Jesus to the cross. That same love motivated Jesus to see His mission through as He anticipated the joy in heaven and the joy of sinners being saved and included in the kingdom of heaven. The writer has already said, "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12:3). All his readers, and us today are still alive. Our suffering has not resulted in death, as it did for Jesus.

So the challenge is to keep struggling against sin while we have life. The Lord allows temptation and persecution to test our faith. He does not shield us from every hardship but uses each difficulty as a training opportunity. In the same way that military training is essential to focus the recruits' minds and wills away from their own comfort so that they can completely obey their commanding officer (2 Timothy 2:3-4), so God trains His children. Quoting from Proverbs 3:11-12 the writer reminds his readers that fathers must discipline their children otherwise they will not be able to grow up responsibly (Hebrews 12:7-11).

Discipline is a function of love. Love, which gives all that is demanded, is not love. it is a licence for unrestrained selfishness. God loves us so much that He cannot allow us to continue to go our own way. His love in Christ teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and get us ready to meet Him (Titus 2:11-14). It is all part of His plan to enable us to grow up spiritually. Without His discipline and tests we will be weak believers, unable to withstand the pressures of temptation and persecution.

The message should be clear. God's discipline comes because He loves us. Troubles and struggles do not mean that the Lord has abandoned us. Quite the opposite. He trains those He loves, tests those He wants to use and He uses all sorts of difficulties to get us to stop trusting ourselves and start trusting Him. It is hard to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and especially for all circumstances (Ephesians 5:20), but earnest servants of God do (2 Corinthians 12:10). That is why we can be confident that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). So do not be distressed by circumstances out of your control that drive you to depend on the Lord. They are a sign that He loves you, and will use all things to bring you His blessing (Romans 8:28).