The Purpose of Suffering

I was last week struck with a note taken about eight months ago when I was in India. It was a lecture on suffering given by a Christian Indian leader.

The Purposes (Benefits?) of Suffering: 1. Suffering helps us to shape our characters 2. Suffering helps us to recognize our true friends 3. Suffering reveals the truth inside us 4. Suffering helps us to hope on the more glorious eternity 5. Suffering helps us to be free from the bound with earthly things 6. Suffering gives us opportunity to think about God 7. Suffering helps us to understand that God suffers with us 8. Suffering helps us to be more sensitive with others who are suffering 9. Suffering helps us to be more open in relationship with others 10. Through suffering, God is working for our good