May 5th, 2026

Hi Friends,

Aware that I’m one of the more stubborn beings that I know (and I know lots of people), let me ask you a simple question: “How stubborn are you?” Now, let me ask you another question: “What does it take for you to become less stubborn — a better argument; a different experience; time to stew in your own juices?” Think about this as you read George MacDonald’s perspective on this.

”There are thousands for whom a blow is a better thing than argument, persuasion, or any sort of kindness. They are such that nothing but a blow will set their door ajar for love to get in. That is why hardships, troubles, disappointments, and all kinds of pain and suffering are sent to so many of us. We are so full of ourselves that we should never come to know what poor creatures we are, never begin to do better, but for the knock-down blows that the loving God gives us. We do not like them, but he does not spare us for that.” (A Rough Shaking; George MacDonald; p.90)

“We are so full of ourselves …” says MacDonald. Jesus said it this way:“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

The worst of this is that we are seldom motivated to see, let alone deal with, “the plank in our own eye.” So, what does a loving God, who wants our best and knows how we think and how we are self-deceived, do? He gives us what MacDonald calls “a blow.” 

To be clear, this “blow” is always administered in love. It always has our best as the motivation for allowing it. It is also always up to us as to whether or not we will learn from the blow that is administered. Sadly, if you’re like me, you may need several blows before your attention is sufficiently fixed and your will is sufficiently humbled as to be willing to change or grow or repent.

To be fair, the “blow” is meant to get our attention. We will only address what has our attention, but we don’t have to do so. God got Pharaoh’s attention but Pharaoh stubbornly refused to accede to God’s will. The result of his stubbornness was, of course, disaster — for him and all those for whom he was responsible.

If this idea of a God who delivers “blows” to get our attention disturbs you, be encouraged. He loves us and knows us. The blows we receive, while painful, will not be more than we can bear. The writer to the Hebrews tells us: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

A final word: don’t be paranoid. God loves you. That’s why he keeps teaching you.

 Blessings!

Doug