When thinking about sin, exile, the Hidden Face of God, and God's eternal covenant with Israel, we can draw inspiration from a line in Psalms 23. Both God's shevet (rod) and mish'enet (leaning-stick) are comforting. Though God's rod symbolizes anger and punishment, both the shevet  and the mish'enet signify that God is present. Though God warns at the end of Devarim that He will "Hide His Face" (as it were), the covenant with the Jewish people is eternal, and God never really leaves them. God is still there, upholding the covenant.

Yemei Iyun be-Tanakh - 5777