Hebrews 12:7-8 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Our motivation for enduring difficult times is because God is using this to grow our faith. The disciplines of God can be far reaching. It is difficult if not impossible at times to determine how God disciplines. The author clearly sees God as sovereign and in control of all. The clue to interpreting this section is the experiences of the heroes of the faith from ch. 11. They experienced many hardships but never lost their faith. Rather, their faith grew stronger and more sure in spite of all the hardships they faced. Whatever the disciplines of God may be, we can be assured that they are for our good because they are done out of love. That God brings discipline to our lives shows that we are part of his family. We have been adopted as God’s sons and daughters (Romans 8:16). These verses do not directly answer the question, why do bad things happen to good people? Bad things happen to all people. These verses do show that God brings discipline to our lives for our good, to strengthen our faith. These disciplines may be experienced as “bad” things but are actually for our good. A lot depends on our approach and response to the difficulties. Will we listen to God’s opportunity to grow our faith and trust, or will we reject God in doubt and fear? Those may have been the types of choices the readers of this epistle were facing.
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