Understanding the Purpose of Pain and Suffering

God allows pain and suffering as a means to test and try His children, teaching them precious lessons of trust and faith that lead to a deeper acquaintance with His characterPC 314.3+1. While pain is a consequence of sin, the Lord uses these afflictions as instructive lessons to encourage us to press forward toward our high calling in ChristHvn 189.4+2.

The Purpose of Suffering

• Refining the Character: Just as a husbandman prunes a vine, God applies the "knife" to remove harmful growth so that the fruit of our lives may be richer and more abundantPC 314.3.

• Awakening Compassion: Suffering and calamity are permitted to call us out of our selfishness and to awaken divine attributes within us, such as tenderness, compassion, and loveRH October 10, 1899, par. 13.

• Manifesting God's Works: In some instances, such as the man born blind, suffering exists not because of a specific sin, but so that the works of God may be made manifest through healing and restoration John 9:2-3ST March 10, 1881, par. 11.

• Developing Faith: Trials are of the highest value when they lead us to put our trust more firmly in God rather than in our own strengthST March 10, 1881, par. 11+1.

The Great Controversy and Human Choice

• Freedom of Will: God desires a service of love and an intelligent appreciation of His character; therefore, He grants all creatures freedom of willGC 493.2.

• The Origin of Evil: Pain entered the world through the rebellion of Lucifer, who accused God of being selfish and requiring a sacrifice He was unwilling to make HimselfEGWSRGES 17.5+2.

• Natural Consequences: Much physical pain is the sure result of transgressing the laws of nature, such as intemperance or following health-destroying fashionsTSB 122.2+2.

• Stewardship and Neglect: God is often reproached for the suffering of the needy, yet this pain frequently exists because human stewards refuse to relieve the distress they have the means to helpCS 48.3+1.

The Divine Sympathy

• God Feels Our Pain: The heart of the infinite Father is pained in sympathy with the "groaning" of creation Romans 8:22-26Ed 263.2.

• The Sacrifice of Christ: To destroy sin and its results, God made the greatest sacrifice possible by giving His Son to suffer the penalty of the law4SP 322.2+2.

• A Sympathizing Redeemer: Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and identifies His interests with ours, being afflicted in all our afflictions1T 391.2+1.

The Eternal Perspective

• A Temporary Discipline: The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the eternal glory that will be revealed in the redeemed Romans 8:18SITI August 17, 1888, page 502.17+1.

• The End of Misery: God has put it in our power, through cooperation with Him in preaching the gospel, to bring this scene of misery to an end Matthew 24:14Ed 263.2.

• Future Restoration: We look forward to the promise of a new earth where God will wipe away all tears, and there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain Revelation 21:4RH April 21, 1891, par. 11+2.