Why Does God Allow People to Suffer?

I'm hesitant to post this list, because on the Disability Concerns section of the Network, it may imply that disability necessarily involves suffering. If you talk to people who have lived with disabilities all their lives, many will tell you that they don't suffer any more than a person who does not have a disability.

Still, newly acquired disability, death of a loved one, a broken relationship, harsh physical pain, and many more circumstances in life bring suffering. When life hits us with painful trials, our hearts plead or demand that God tell us why. The Bible teaches that there are many reasons why God allows suffering, though like Job the person suffering may never learn an answer to this question. 

When I was in parish ministry, I prepared this list of some reasons why God allows suffering to enter people's lives, and I've included some promises too of God's loving presence with his people. Though God has many reasons to allow suffering, he never abandons his children. No matter how severe our suffering, no matter how lonely and abandoned we may feel, God's children never live without hope!