God loves us

³ Think about the one who endured such opposition from sinners so that you won’t be discouraged and you won’t give up. ⁴ In your struggle against sin, you haven’t resisted yet to the point of shedding blood, ⁵ and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline or give up when you are corrected by him, ⁶ because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts. ⁷ Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn’t disciplined by his or her father? ⁸ But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters. ⁹ What’s more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. ¹² So strengthen your drooping hands and weak knees! ¹³ Make straight paths for your feet so that if any part is lame, it will be healed rather than injured more seriously. (Hebrews 12:3-13, CEB)

This is an interesting passage, because it says we are to endure discipline. Which we should. Actions have consequences and we must face those. Our parents punished us for the things we got caught doing, and God will also help and correct us as we go about our lives.

This doesn’t mean we should endure abuse from those who abuse us. Or that we should stay in situations because this is what I am supposed to endure.

Discipline is one thing to help us grow, but abuse is not something anyone should endure. God loves us and will always guide us to be the person we were created to be.

Live in love and love as you go.

Love People. Love God.