Does God punish?

My friend sent me a message today bout how he thinks God is punishing him because of the way he has been and the wrong things he has done, and the way he has been living his life. He was telling me how he thinks that God has unique ways of punishing people and how it falls at the right time? He also said that God knows what would hurt him the most, and that's what He's doing.

Is that so? Does God punish? Even if He does, is that it? He hurts us? Or is there still hope? Is there still forgiveness?

I believe God always gives a second chance to all who actually admit they've been wrong and they've been doing mistakes, I believe there is still hope and God forgives, no matter how terrible we can get. That's why He sent His son to the world to die on the cross for our sins. Like it is written in John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever that believes in Him shall not perish but have an everlasting life.

That worse basically sums it all up; His love for us, His sacrifice for us, how he just loves us so much that He's willing to give up His beloved Son to die on the cross for OUR sins, though He is blameless.

There's is a second chance for us to turn back from our wrong doings and to go back to Him, asking Him to guide us, help us out, to be with us, teach us, and give us strength so that we will not return to the old road of darkness.

However, God never said that its gonna be easy.

Yes, we will still face the consequences of our actions. Why? I'm still looking for the exact answer for that. But I believe, if God only forgives us and said we don't have to face the consequences of our actions, many would take His grace of forgiving us for granted. They'll end up doing mistakes, doing things that they not supposed to do, then just say sorry to God, then do it again, and never really turn back from their sins and wrong deeds. It just makes it seem like God's forgiveness is so cheap. Maybe that's why we still have to face the consequences of our actions. Best example to describe this would be King David. He did do mistakes, he did commit sins. He asked for forgiveness but he still faced the repercussions of his wrong deeds. But God was still with him. He was still guiding him.

God's love for us is so awesome, and no one can compare to that.

He is ALWAYS waiting for us to turn to Him for help and strength and wisdom, in everything we do. We just have to ask Him. God does forgive. Though we will still face the consequences of our actions, He will still be with us to go through it. It believe so.