you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us" (2 Corinthians 7:9, NIV).
2. He wants to restore us to fellowship: "That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:3).
3. He wants to make us more faithful: "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).
4. He wants to keep us humble: "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'" (2 Corinthians 12:7–9, NIV).
5. He wants to teach us spiritual discernment: "But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world" (1 Corinthians 11:31–32, NIV).
6. He wants to prepare us for more effective service: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Helping Strategy
1. Encourage the inquirer. He or she can be thankful for the Lord's disciplining. By disciplining, God is not discarding His child or disowning him or her, but rather:
A. He is confirming His love for you: "For whom the Lord loves He
chastens" (Hebrews 12:6).
B. He is confirming His relationship with you: "If you are not
disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons" (Hebrews 12:8, NIV).
C. He wants you to respond in obedience and faithfulness to Him:
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" (Psalm 119:67).