Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Ask Pastor John podcast.

On Monday, we talked about the radiance of eternity and our joy there.

Great hope, great picture, a great beauty of God's glory shining through all of the material realm,

everything being clear, everything radiating glory.

But today we are back sharply taking a turn back to reality, this fallen reality that we know so well right now.

As we read Psalm 94 together.

It's a Psalm we read together tomorrow, a Psalm all about pain, provoking this question from a listener named Matthew.

Dear Pastor John, hello, and thank you for the APJ podcast.

I listen every week to both you and Tony, and am truly grateful for your work and faithfulness.

Thank you.

My question comes from Psalm 94, particularly from this verse,

Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, verse 12.

This Psalm speaks about the godly enduring persecution from the wicked,

as we see in verses 1 to 7 and 16 to 23,

as well as enduring days of trouble.

So, verse 13 says, and the heavy cares of heart. That's verse 19.

I've been wondering if these three categories are all forms of discipline that God uses for

the psalmist and for us today. Does God discipline his children through persecution by

allowing us to go through times of trouble and by placing heavy cares on our hearts?

Are each of these experiences considered forms of discipline in our lives?

And if so, what does it all mean for the Christian?

Thank you.

...