I grew up in a town called Brick, New Jersey, which is about 90 minutes south of New York City and 90 minutes east of Philadelphia. I loved growing up there. It was a beach town, I had great friends and the high school football program was one of the best in the state.My high school coach was Warren Wolf. It was an honor to play for him. Thousands of others who played for him would agree with me. He was tough and required a lot of us, but he loved those who played for him.

There’s no doubt I’m a step or two (or three) slower than I used to be, but even though it was 30 years ago, I could still run some of the plays we had in our offense. Why? Because we ran them over and over and over until we got them right. Coach Wolf corrected our mistakes and made us run the play again…and again…and again.

“Get on the ball! Run it again!”

Any good coach is going to correct mistakes and make his team run the play until it’s done right. That’s how you get better. That’s how you win games. That’s how you achieve goals.

So why do we get so discouraged or angry or confused when God corrects us? Proverbs 3:11-12 says:

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

When you encounter painful circumstances, difficult people, situations that seem beyond your ability to handle–remember, God is not angry with you. He hasn’t left you. He hasn’t forgotten you. It’s just the opposite–He is treating you as His child. He is training you.

We will not always see things in our lives that need correction and we cannot possibly see character qualities that must be strengthened for what lies ahead. But God does. He is the perfect Teacher, the perfect Coach, the perfect Father.

One of my greatest failures as a Christ-follower is believing the lie that says God is not good and doesn’t love me if I’m facing difficulties or painful circumstances. The truth is that God trains (disciplines) those He loves. He accomplishes His training by using some of the very things I fight against and want to avoid at all costs.

So the next time you or someone you love faces an unexpected and unwanted medical issue, a financial crisis hits, a boss or co-worker treats you unfairly or the desire of your heart goes unfulfilled–consider that maybe God is using those things to train you to be more like Jesus.

His discipline is evidence of His great love for you.