God Trains Us

God is educating you; that’s why you must never drop out. He’s treating you as dear children. This trouble you’re in isn’t punishment; it’s training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God’s training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God’s holy best. At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
     - Hebrews 12:7-11, The Message

The Greek word that comes up a bunch in this passage is translated different places in the New Testament as 'discipline' or 'training.'  It has that sense of facing limits.  We might use the phrase, "Setting boundaries" for it today.

How is God training you these days?  Do you wish he weren't training you (be honest!)?  What do you sense is his goal for training you?