"What punishments of God are not gifts?" -- J.R.R. Tolkien
(c) Deborah Evans This quote, "what punishments of God are not gifts?" from author J.R.R. Tolkien, gives us insight into how to understand God's connection with us. The nature of God's relationship is a progressive interaction. Even punishments that bring us closer to God's heart and closer to the image (character, submission, and obedience) of Christ are gifts of God. See Romans 8:29, I Corinthians 15:49. When we are punished by humans (parents, teachers, etc.), that punishment cannot be separated from the frustrations, irritations, unchecked anger, and shortcomings of those parents, teachers, or others. None of those appear in any punishment (corrective or directive action) taken by God because none of those shortcomings or emotional imbalances are part of God's character. They cannot be displayed or imposed by God. When we understand God's entire purpose in redemption and salvation is to make us like Jesus, to conform us to Jesus' image (personal...