Does God want us to suffer? I don’t think so. In the world as God created it, in the Garden of Eden, there was no pain or suffering. I do believe, though, that God wants us to choose. We sometimes make choices that hurt ourselves and others, and other people can choose to hurt us. Suffering is a part of being us, being human.

And God knows that in a broken world, we are going to suffer because of our faith. The message of Christ is countercultural, which makes it unpopular, especially among the most powerful. Jesus calls us to follow him, and the road is one that comes with a cross. However, it is also a road that leads to eternal life.

We typically don’t strive to suffer, but we recognize that the suffering we experience brings us closer to the path of Christ. The best part of our faith is that, despite the fact that we sometimes suffer, we are never alone. God is with us always.

By Stephen Mazingo from D365