Does God enjoy punishing me or sending troubles to me?

Lamentations 3:33He [the Lord] does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

Romans 5:8God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Hebrews 12:6“For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

God’s love for us is pure and kind; he does not want to see us suffer! Our suffering would be worse if he did not sometimes correct us. In our suffering, God suffers with us—wanting us to turn to him, to trust him, and to learn from him.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God’s power is exhibited best when he accomplishes his work through our weaknesses. Sometimes he allows or even sends adversity for this very purpose. This keeps us from becoming proud and allows us to grow in our trust and dependence on him.

Jeremiah 29:11“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Romans 8:28We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

God’s plan for us is good. This does not mean that everything that happens on earth is good, but it does mean that everything that happens will one day lead to a good and glorious eternity. If we make him Lord of our lives, he promises the hope of a perfect and eternal future in a new world where sin, pain, and death are gone forever. He also promises to bring good out of our adversity in this life.