looking back

The Bible says that "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11) Earlier in the same passage, it says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children." (Hebrews 12:7)

It's really hard to see this and think this way. It seems like something is wrong when things are hard or we suffer. We don't see the value in those circumstances. It helps to reflect on the strength and the wisdom and the greatness of God. Things haven't gone wrong. God is building something beautiful. There is a meaning to these trials. We always see that later on. We look back on times of suffering and we see something good. We don't see pain.