Hi! Darren
Talk about chastisement, well you've come to the right one. Oh! Yes, I was chastised very severely because I blamed Him for taking my dear wife off me after 57 years of blissful happiness. Oh! Yes, I blamed Him and gave up the will to live. For 12 whole months I waited for Him to take me out of my misery but that's one prayer He refused to answer.
Then some friends called, Babylonian friends but friends nevertheless, and they noticed my skeletal condition and told me to get a hold of myself that neither God nor my dear departed wife would want me to do that to myself. I was in a sort of self destruct situation. My answer to their concern was, "I don't know what He is playing at, why is He persisting in keeping me going like a walking, talking, sleeping, eating lifeless robot?"
Then Dorothea said "Have you ever considered the fact that He hasn't finished with you yet and that He may have something in mind for you to do? This was the catalyst that got me thinking and I started praying asking God what it was He wanted of me, as if it were possible for me to give Him anything, seeing as all came from Him.
This is why I'm on this forum, trying to help and encourage through my years of experience and also to learn truths I'd never dreamed of to prepare me for a place in His kingdom. My wife in my eyes was as perfect as any human can be and she has set an example for me to attain at least that standard if my dream was to become true.
You see brother God does spank you pretty hard, and like all humans the first thing that comes into your head is to rebel and blame Him, as though He is in the least bothered, because in your rebellion you continue to suffer a suffering brought on by your own stupidity.
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness” (1Cor.3:19).
God bless you brother in our joint walk in Christ.
Love in Christ Jesus.
Roy UK