Biblical Answer

The question of why we suffer is a complex and deeply personal issue. As a Christian, I want to address this question from a biblical perspective. The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all creation, and that He is good and loving. However, it also acknowledges that suffering is a part of life. In the story of the paralytic man, Jesus heals him, but the question remains, why did the man have to be paralyzed in the first place? From a human perspective, it's natural to ask why God allowed this to happen. However, from a biblical perspective, we can see that God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

In the biblical account of Job, we see a similar question being asked. Job suffers greatly, and his friends try to explain why he is suffering. However, God ultimately reveals that Job's suffering is not a punishment for sin, but rather a test of his faith and character. God says, "My servant Job shall pray for you, for I have chosen him to stand in the place of harm" (Job 42:10). This passage shows us that God's sovereignty is not limited by human understanding or expectations. God's ways are often mysterious and beyond our comprehension, but we can trust that He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Ultimately, the question of why we suffer is not just a intellectual inquiry, but a deeply personal and spiritual one. As Christians, we can trust that God is good and loving, even in the midst of suffering. We can pray like Jesus did, "Father, not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). We can also trust that God is working in us, refining us, and making us more like Christ, even in the midst of suffering. As the apostle Paul wrote, "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). May we learn to trust in God's sovereignty and goodness, even in the midst of suffering.