Proverbs 3:11
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My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
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Affliction comes to every saint. Adversity, difficulty, pain, and trouble are the tools of the blessed God to correct your faults and perfect you. Instead of resenting His chastening or tiring of the setbacks He sends your way, you should rejoice that He loves you and wants to perfect you. If He left you alone, then you are a bastard, and not a son (Heb 12:7-8)!
No one likes affliction, difficulties, or trouble. These are things you try to avoid as much as possible in life. But the Lord sends them in love, for He is able to use them to teach you more than peace and prosperity could ever teach you. Good times feel great, but they never made anyone better. Hard times feel bad, but they make you stronger and wiser.
It is easy to fret against the Lord, to say, "Lord, why did you send this into my life?" It is easy to say He is not fair - you do not deserve such trouble. It is easy to get discouraged and think of quitting your Christian race. Job fell for these thoughts. But Elihu told Job he was wrong, God was right, and Job could end the painful lessons by humbling himself.
There are four reasons bad things happen to a Christian. He is being chastened for sin in his life; he is suffering the natural consequences of his own foolishness; he is being tested to build his faith; or God is simply manifesting His own glory in his life. The purpose of self-examination is to analyze your circumstances to find God's lesson in them. Once a man knows the matter is an act of God, he should humbly submit to it and rejoice in it.
The ultimate reason for cheerfully accepting God's chastening in your life is the proof it gives of His love for you (3:12; Heb 12:5-6; Rev 3:19). The true God only afflicts His children out of faithfulness and desire for them. David said, "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Ps 119:75).
The second reason for cheerfully accepting God's chastening in your life is that it keeps you back from sinning more (Job 34:31-32; Ps 119:67; Jer 31:18-19; I Cor 11:32). Since that is often the only way you can learn not to do something wrong that is appealing, you should be thankful for His mercy in teaching you His law and ways (Job 5:17; Ps 94:12).
The third reason for cheerfully accepting God's chastening is the loving reason for it - to make you perfect (Rom 5:3-5; Heb 12:10-12; Jas 1:2-4). Learning to patiently deal with adversity is a great measure of maturity (24:10; I Pet 5:10). Affliction builds faith in God; prosperity does not cause you to trust Him more (30:8-9). Paul got excited about the opportunity to grow in the grace of God through adversity in his life (II Cor 12:7-10).
This proverb, like the rest, teaches wisdom. By seeing adversity as His tool of perfection, you are forewarned and forearmed to handle it wisely (Eccl 7:14). The quicker you learn the lesson, the sooner the trouble will be lifted; if you despise and resent it, He will bring it with greater intensity (Job 36:15-18). There is no reason to faint, for they that endure shall obtain the promises (II Cor 4:16-18; Gal 6:9; Heb 6:10-12; 12:1-6; Jas 5:11).
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