That’s how God punishes His child.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
How I forget that I deserve unending chastisement!<\/p>\n
How I neglect to remember the everlasting kindness and great mercy that is my lot!<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
When I am the one<\/b> 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.<\/p>\n
By God’s grace, let us endure the darkness of our “moments,” believing that He will bring us forth to the light.<\/p>\n
Now, here’s what I read that triggered that:<\/p>\n
The Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion. -Lamentations 3:31,32<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n