"Endure your trials as 'discipline'. God treats you as his sons. For what "son" is there whom his father does not discipline? At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it." Hebrews 12:6-7

The trials of our earthly life are the fires of purification so that we can better be readied for the glories of heaven. Without these trials, these times of discipline, we will be too weak to fight in the battle that is going on for our lives. God has created us to be with him eternally. The Evil One, having lost this privilege, seeks to prevent us from reaching our eternal destiny. While this battle rages, we need to recall the words of hope found in the First Letter of John: "He who is within  us is greater than he who is outside." But for the victory to be complete, we need to cooperate with the grace of God and the opportunities he gives us to fight the good fight over the attacks of our enemy. Embracing the discipline of the Lord will hone our ability to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord, who is our strength.