I think given certain issues with the way some people imagine what a personal relationship with God’s like especially with certain contradictions that it’s more necessary to rethink of it as either tough love (he’s willing to impose restrictions on human malices) or doing military service in terms of humans’ vulnerability to sin. It actually makes more sense to think of God as a drill sergeant in the sense of retraining humans to live a different, holier life.
Like new army recruits, converts are made to go through training as well as skills necessary to serve in the army. Though that amounts to a lot of hardships along the way, especially with all the stress and punishment being imposed out of obedience. That and the need to fight enemies. In this case, Christians are made to fight the Devil. This is rather imperfect but actually much makes more sense this way in why God allows suffering.
fynm 