What if, instead of thinking when we are dealing with a difficulty, that God is trying to teach us something -- what if instead He is trying to get us to unlearn something?
What if He continues to allow similar situations into our lives, not because we are so hard-headed and refuse to do better, but because He is willing for us to misunderstand as long as it takes for us to realize our view of Him is wrong? That we, in fact, don't understand how much He loves us?
That, as some say, His love is scandalous and He desperately wants us to embrace this love of His? Embrace Him as a really radical crazy-in-love with us kind of Father who will do anything to get us right with Him?
Oh sure we all know God loves us, but do we really understand how deep and broad and infinite and amazing that love is? I think if we grasped a tiny fraction of it we'd fall in a faint and just lay there from the sheer amazingness of it all.
God isn't shaking a finger at you.
God isn't keeping a tally of your wrongs.
God isn't threatening you or teaching you a lesson.
He's loving you and urging you to accept His scandalous love, His scandalous grace.
Open our eyes Lord so we can see this amazing love you are giving us.