⁵  and you have forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons and daughters: 

My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline 
or give up when you are corrected by him, 
⁶ because the Lord disciplines whomever he loves, 
and he punishes every son or daughter whom he accepts.

⁷   Bear hardship for the sake of discipline. God is treating you like sons and daughters! What child isn’t disciplined by his or her father?  ⁸  But if you don’t experience discipline, which happens to all children, then you are illegitimate and not real sons and daughters.  ⁹  What’s more, we had human parents who disciplined us, and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live?  ¹⁰  Our human parents disciplined us for a little while, as it seemed best to them, but God does it for our benefit so that we can share his holiness.  ¹¹  No discipline is fun while it lasts, but it seems painful at the time. Later, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it. 

Hebrews 12:5-11

This passage introduces the concept of “discipline,” which we will consider next (this will be one of our scriptures we study together in worship tomorrow). How do the words of Hebrews 12:7 speak to our experience of “life in the valley”? Can you identify a personal example of “hardship” that has served to train and mature you?

Memory Verse – 
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;