In Psalms, chapter ninety-four, verse twelve, there are several facts about God’s discipline of believers and the hardships and troubles He allows us to suffer. They signify that we are God’s children, as in Hebrews twelve, verses seven through eight. They indicate an assurance of God’s love and concern for us, as in Hebrews twelve, verse six. The Lord’s discipline has two purposes: that believers might not be condemned by the world, as in First Corinthians eleven, verses thirty-one to thirty-two, and share God’s holiness and continue to live sanctified lives without which we will never see the Lord, as in Hebrews twelve, verses ten to eleven, and verse fourteen.
There are two possible consequences of the Lord’s discipline. Believers may endure the hardships God leads us through, submit to God’s will, and continue to live as God’s spiritual children, as in verses seven through nine, and share His holiness, as in verse ten. It will yield the fruit of righteousness, as in verse eleven. We may despise the discipline of our Father, as in verse five, rebel against God because of suffering and hardship, and thereby fall away from God, as in Hebrews twelve, verse twenty-five, and chapter three, verses twelve to fourteen.
Under God’s will, trouble may come as a result of our spiritual warfare with Satan, as in Ephesians six, verses eleven through eighteen, as a test to strengthen our faith, as in First Peter one, verses six to seven, and our works, as in Matthew seven, verses twenty-four through twenty-seven, and First Corinthians three, verses thirteen to fifteen, or as a preparation for us to comfort others, as in Second Corinthians one, verses three to five, and to manifest the life of Christ, as in Second Corinthians four, verses eight to ten, verse twelve, and verse sixteen, respectively.
In all kinds of adversity, we must seek God and examine our lives, as in Second Chronicles twenty-six, verse five, Psalms three, verse four, Psalms nine, verse twelve, and Psalms thirty-four, verse seventeen, and forsake all that is contrary to His holiness.