Hey NLC-
None of us enjoys pain. Nobody woke up this morning thinking, "boy do I hope today hurts!" But, the truth is, we all learn from pain. When a kid burns their hand on a stove, it will be a while before they touch the stove again. And, as Kelly Clarkson likes to say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".
In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul basically tells the church the same thing...(8) I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. (9) Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.
Paul sent the church a letter reprimanding them and telling them to change their behavior. Just like when you were a teenager and your parents told you were wrong, I bet they didn't like it. But then he says, I knew it was going to hurt you. The pain was worth the lesson it taught. The pain wasn't the goal, but it was a necessary side effect to repentance!
God wants you to follow Him. To obey His word. To live the way He desires. FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. But along the way, if you need correction, He will correct you, even if it hurts. Don't take the pain of life as God not loving, it is God loving you enough to cause you pain even if He doesn't want to, so that repentance will result. I suggest you examine your heart today and turn that "bitterness" and "why me" stuff into repentance. I, for one at least, am going to choose today to repent where I am wrong, and hopefully avoid some pain of being corrected.
Daniel King
Danvers Location Pastor