‘Encouragement’ isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind when we think about God’s discipline, but that is how the writer of Hebrews describes it. Our Heavenly Father uses suffering to discipline His children, and uses it to shape us a little bit more into the image of His glorious Son.
Dr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.