Re: Faith in God

Well, I'm certainly glad to hear that you are not seeking out suffering.

I agree that external suffering is not necessarily a result of sin. I'm not one to judge the case of specific individuals. What I can tell you from my own experience is that true suffering comes not from the external (which would also include disease, pain and death, among many other things, which all humans will experience), but rather from the internal bondage of sin. The word suffering as referring to Paul and others are referring to external suffering, not internal suffering. Christ removes the internal suffering, that is how you can rejoice in suffering and that is the only way you can rejoice and remain in love and blissful worship even while experiencing external sufferings. On the outside there may be suffering but on the inside there is no suffering. Christ wants this and can accomplish this for every single soul if we have the faith to receive it.