Suffering is something expected in the life of the Christian; Tests our faith, molds our character, and produces beneficial fruits; To bear it with joy is something pleasing to the Lord and rewarded in eternal life.

  2. James and Ralph: Thanks for the input.  As I have mentioned in a discussion, there are categories of unwanted events in life. For some reason, if one does a little research, one will find out that people that are going to be used by God, becomes the target of the devil's fury early on. So are we to manage risk and hazards in a christian manner, or are we to go happy go lucky and accept all? Example:  Acts 16:7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Suppose your denomination intends to send you to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus does not allow it, who do you obey? Suppose that based on the command to obey your authorities (referring to legitimate ones), you go, and something bad happens to you or to your team mates, was it God's fault, or was it you that decided to obey men above the Spirit of Jesus? There are many other examples in the Bible, many persons healed in the Bible, were being oppressed by the devil, and Jesus undid the works of the evil one. Spiritual discernment is needed to really know what is truly the will of God, and what is the trap of the devil. How about the parable of the foolish and wise virgins? why did the foolish virgins failed to see the need to have full oil supply (oil as a type of the Holy Spirit), until it was too late? Was it God's will, or was it negligence? If it was negligence, was it because bad doctrine pushed in them, or was it because of laziness? I hope you all can see where I am trying to get with this. Our salvation is free, we cannot do anything to earn our salvation. But once saved, we must strive to be Christlike, to become mature Christians, and Paul and others relate maturity to gift of discernment, to the need of a personal relation with Jesus to really know what is going on in any given situation. Peace and grace.

  3. Also many times God "tests" his people for their good. Even in Exodus 16:4 when God provided the manna, it was not just a life-preserver for them to survive. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. - Ex 16:4 ESV

  4. No matter what suffering comes into our lives I believe Jesus expects us to use our faith to believe Him to take us to victory. The book of Hebrews chapter 11 is full of many different kinds of suffering that comes to God's people but God is faithful to deliver. Some did not accept deliverance. Sometime things don't work out like we want but Paul was clear that we should forget the things behind and press forward to the mark of what God has called us to.