WHY SUFFERING?

This Easter season we are again reminded of the harsh, tremendous suffering that Christ endured on the cross. His suffering was required to pay the great sin debt for human kind. Christianity began with twelve Apostles and the Apostle Paul.  All the Apostles with the exception of John were executed, most by horrific means, for their faith.   Those few individuals have grown today into many millions of Christians wordlwide.  Many Christian martyrs and missionaries have given their lives to spread the gospel of Christ. Not a day goes by that we are not reminded of human suffering, so there must be a plan or a reason. Why does God allow His children to have trials and tribulation; to suffer? Christ Himself said, " If any man desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me"... Matthew 16:24

There are those who will not accept a Christ that allows suffering; they expect a life without trouble and say, "God would not do that." But as humans we are unable to comprehend the mind of God and why He allows trials and trouble.  I believe there are many reasons for suffering that God in His wisdom uses for purposes we are not able to fully understand. I strongly believe He expects us to use our suffering to comfort and help others, which is what I attempted to do in this book. I also believe that according to His mercy, He prepares us for suffering. We only have obey and to trust what He tells us in His word.

"Bessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
                                                          2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.  For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men".
                                                      Lamentations 3:32:33

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us"...
                                                                    Romans 8:18