'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.
Timely and needful. Tim Chester's treatment of a difficult issue is both pastorally sensitive and biblically faithful. A go-to aid for those who find themselves in need of help and counsel when the rod of chastisement strikes. Warmly recommended.
-- Derek W. H. Thomas (Senior Minister of Preaching and Teaching, First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina)Tim Chester is a first rate spiritual physician who knows how to apply the soothing balm of Scripture. For anyone who wants to understand what God is doing in Christian suffering they need look no further. This is a first rate book to be read and re-read.
-- Melvin Tinker (1955-2021) (Vicar of St John's Newland, Kingston upon Hull, England)The Body of Christ needs this book. For who among us hasn't struggled to endure and be trained by hardship? In this pithy volume, Tim Chester tells us how we can move beyond the pain of life's heartaches to enjoying the harvest of righteousness and peace promised in Hebrews 12.
-- Janice M. Cappucci (Biblical Counselor and author)This book has opened my eyes to a wider view of God's discipline, and in doing so has set me to further searching the scriptures, and my heart, in a desire to grow in my understanding and appreciation of this aspect of my Father's love. That is the particular joy of God's Discipline, it taught me to understand God's discipline, but more, to want to see it, and to desire more of it in my life.
-- John Hindley (Pastor of Broadgrace Church, Norfolk)We believe in God who is sovereign over all things. Therefore we believe in providence, not coincidence. But many of us struggle to understand what the Lord is doing with us as he shapes the ups and downs of our daily lives. 'Why did he allow this?' 'Why didn't that happen when I felt sure it would?' Tim Chester has written a fine, down to earth book tackling such questions. It is full of Biblical common sense and will be helpful to every Christian who reads it. It not only helps us to understand how God trains, corrects and develops us spiritually through life's circumstances but leaves us genuinely encouraged by our Father's loving purposes.
-- John Benton (Director of Pastoral Support, The Pastors' Academy, London Seminary, London, UK)As I read these pages, Tim's writing stirred my heart with the truth that we enjoy a God who so loves us, His children, that He refuses to neglect our souls.
-- Jason Helopoulos (Senior Pastor, University Reformed Church, East Lansing, Michigan)