Pain & Suffering-Why does God allow it?

We all question why God allows pain and suffering in this world. People who struggle with cancer, an innocent baby born with birth defects, or a woman who is beaten and raped and left for dead.

Are there benefits of pain and suffering? We learn things from suffering that we connot learn by studying. There is one very obvious benefit of pain. It keeps us from seriously hurting ourselves. When you touch something hot, you instantly pull away because of the pain. If you did not feel the pain, you might have seriously injured yourself without realizing it. Pain can save our lives in this way. However, there are other benefits of pain and suffering.

My list of the benefits of pain and suffering:

1- Pain and suffering can help us to learn important lessons in life. Example: A mother eagle forcing her baby out of the nest to teach it to fly.

2- Pain and suffering can bring about creativiy, resourcefulness and courage. Example: Parents who lost a child helping to pass laws or starting organizations to protect other children. Artists and composers sometimes do their greatest work during times of pain or loss.

3- Pain and suffering can help us to comfort others who are going through similar pain. Example: This is the benefit of support groups for various problems. People who have faced the same problems are able to help and encourage others.

4- Pain and suffering can help to shape our character. Example: People who have survived as prisoners of war or persecutions often have a strength of character which is admired by others.

5- Pain and suffering can test us to show what we are made of. Example: The patriarch Abraham was tested; Job, the ancient man of wealth was tested; the apostle Peter was tested; and the early Christians were tested. In all cases the testing showed the weaknesses and the strengths of their faith in God.

6- Pain and suffering can lead to repentance and salvation. Example: Sometimes it takes pain and suffering to turn a person's life around and head it in the right direction.

7- Pain and suffering can sometimes help us to trust God. Perhaps we are forced to turn to God because we have no other place to turn. Example: There are numerous people who have made the decision to trust God because of their pain and suffering.

8- Bearing pain and suffering well can be an inspiration to others. Example: A child born with no hands, only one stub of an arm and no thighs, but he has been an inspiraton to many.

9- Pain and suffering can prevent us from becoming dangerously proud. Example: Again Paul said that his "thorn in the flesh" was to keep him from becoming proud and arrogant.

10- Sometimes pain and suffering in the life of one person can result in the advancement of the gospel in the life of another person. Example: I know a family who accepted Christ because of the suffering of one member who died of cancer.