sophonia 3:16-17

ON THAT DAY, IT SHALL BE SAID TO JERUSALEM:
FEAR NOT, O SION, BE NOT DISCOURAGED!
THE LORD YOUR GOD, IS IN YOUR MIDST, A MIGHTY SAVIOUR;
HE WILL REJOICE OVER YOU WITH GLADNESS,
AND RENEW YOU IN HIS LOVE, HE WILL SING JOYFULLY BECAUSE OF YOU,
Sophonia 3:16-17

okey...take a deep breath. Ready?
This is a favorite verse of ...everybody. We even have songs with it...and I like it too.
Nevertheless (I decided to use this instead of the ugly BUT)...
Nevertheless it is important to look at its full context. If you read the whole book, you will discover that the people were rebelious and walking in their own ways. God spoke and said "I will purify you" and then it talks of war and destruction and fire...ouch...and THEN it finally says...IN THAT DAY. Meaning once God has purified you...THEN He will sing with songs of joy over you.
In modern society we are soooo afraid of creating some mayor trauma in children that we no longer discipline them...God is a loving Father. The most loving of ALL nevertheless he corrects us. And He can be real hard. Just read the whole book of Sophonia.

BUT the good news is that if we accept the correction then we will be in a totally different condition before God.
Just how different will our condition be?
God will sing over us with songs of joy.
God will live in our midst.
God will fight against our enemies.
God will renew us in His love.

My dear friend, please believe me, His discipline is good, it brings forth life.
His discipline builds us up.
My dear friend it is very important that you understand that The Father Disciplines those that He loves.
So if He says no, if He asks you to change your ways, if He sets rules that seem a bother and too high to live by...take a deep breath. Consider your ways.
Be wise, accept His counsel...this will keep you safe.