The Suffering Saints

If God exists, why is there pain and suffering?This is a perennial question faithful people in every generation wrestle with. But rest assured, even though people suffer greatly for a season, these harrowing experiences are not senseless. There is no such thing as a purposeless encounter with pain and suffering. Nothing is senseless in God's universe, from the least experience with tragedy to the greatest trials of the Christian life. A person may not comprehend what is taking place at the moment, but that does not mean the event is senseless. All believers can say with Joseph, "You meant evil against me, but God intended it for good" (Gen. 50:20). Yet, oftentimes the good result does not come apart from and before a great sacrifice-just as the biblical Job experienced. In this primer on pain and suffering, the reader will discover reasons for evil in the world, how to keep a biblical perspective on hardship, and gain assurance that "all things works together for good to those who love God" (Rom. 8:28). Christians can take comfort in knowing God reigns supreme, and that he uses pain and suffering for a greater good, for our good.