Our Lord loves us and shares His glory with us.  When we stray from what is right there will be a gentle tugging in our hearts.  The devil will present people, places and things to us that are too good to be true yet serious consequences follow.  God knows the consequences that are coming if we continue to seek after the bliss and passing pleasures the devil offers.  God will make all efforts to protect us from a disaster starting with a still voice that pricks our conscience that something is awry.  The most painful truth is when a person we look up to and respect is the one to rebuke us.  Love hurts.  When someone cares enough to risk losing our friendship in order to make an eternal difference in our lives, they are our friends indeed.  Their loving yet painful truth causes us to resent them and want to retaliate.  Our biggest excuse is that we invested so much time and effort into these things and we deserve to get something back.  Yes, we deserve to be set free.

These friends who pointed out the truth still wait with open arms for us to return to them.  The painful truth hurts both the one receiving the truth and the one giving it.  Jesus loves us and so do our true friends.  Returning to the truth will open up new opportunities for peace, safety and comfort.

Psalm 119:74-76

May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair;
    you disciplined me because I needed it.
Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
    just as you promised me, your servant.