Evangelical
Sisterhood of Mary

 
“And I will give you a new heart — I will give you new and right desires — and put a new spirit within you. I will take out your stony hearts of sin and give you new hearts of love.” Ezekiel 36:26 (TLB)
 

The love of God the Father is not sentimental. Like a good father, He is firm in dealing with our weaknesses. When we are hardened and stubborn, His love can be like a hammer chiselling us into shape. True love has to be tough at times. It does not rest until the beloved child has become beautiful.
Learn to see the great love of the Father behind all His dealings with you. Then you will find His chastening easy to accept. Do not resist when His hand wants to chisel your stony heart with His instruments, such as people who make life hard for you. When you resist, you obstruct and prolong His work; this leads only to your own harm and disadvantage. Say yes to His chastening. You need it in order to reach the goal He has set for your life. Say yes, and you will enable Him to accomplish His loving purpose for you all the more quickly.

Taken from Father of Comfort by M. Basilea Schlink