UNDERSTANDING SUFFERING
Why does God allow suffering?

Character/maturity
In Romans 5:1-5, the bible records, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Ultimately God is more interested in making the messenger fit for the message. This is because to God, the messenger is very much part of the message. Through suffering then, He forges the character of His servant. Men who have not been through suffering are very much likely to give up in the face of trials. They have no hope. But to those whom has allowed to pass through the fire, the trials only serve to expose their perseverance and the waters of hope come bursting forth in the midst of the wilderness.