“The Zohar (Bechukotai, 114) states ‘How beloved are the children of Israel before the Holy One, blessed be He!  He desires to reprove them and to lead them on the straight path, like a loving father who wields a rod in hand in order to lead the son on the straight path, so that the son shall not stray to the right or to the left, as it is written (Proverbs, 3:12) ‘Hashem reproves those that He loves, and like a father mollifies the child.’

Ponder the above proverb for a moment.  If Hashem reproves those that He loves, inversely, He doesn’t reprove those that He hates!  If so, a life devoid of trials and tribulations is not a very good sign.”  – The Garden of Emuna