We read in Hebrews 12:6,11, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
There is a great difference between punishment and chastisement, which we do well to bear in mind especially when the Lord leads us in ways of sickness and adversity.
There is, first of all, a difference with respect to the motive and the reason for both. The motive of punishment is God’s righteous wrath against sin; the motive of chastisement is His everlasting love. “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth,” Hebrews 12:6.
There is a difference, too, with respect to purpose. The purpose of punishment is vindication of justice; the purpose of chastisement is instruction and sanctification: “For our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness,” Hebrews 12:10.
And so, finally, there is a difference with respect to the result or end. The end of punishment is eternal death; the end of chastisement is eternal glory. Our God never punishes His children, for Christ bore all our punishment on the cross; but He does chastise them, that they may be exercised thereby (Hebrews 12:11).