Hi RichardI imagine you may not like the answer, and forgive me, it is long and based on the Christian Scriptures.My starting point is that there is evil in the world. John Piper, an American pastor and theologian (PhD from the University of West Germany) who influenced a generation of evangelical Christians, separates evil into two categories, natural and moral evil. Natural evil is things like cancer and tornadoes [and coronavirus]; moral evil is sinful action. Scripture demonstrates that God is sovereign over natural evil. Passages such as Job 1:21–22, Deuteronomy 32:39, 2 Samuel 12:1 5, and 1 Samuel 2:6–7 testify God controls life and death. Other passages such as Exodus 4:11 and 1 Peter 3:17 state God controls disease and suffering. While Job is afflicted with sores, for example, he comments that one should accept the good as well as the evil things from God. Indeed, God may will that people suffer. God is also in control over moral evil, but I am not sure this is the question we are discussing. The highest, clearest, surest display of God's glory in suffering is that the best Person in the universe [Jesus] suffered for millions of undeserving sinners. As Piper states, "Therefore, the ultimate reason that suffering exists in the universe is so that Christ might display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God by suffering in himself to overcome our suffering and bring about the praise of the glory of the grace of God.”Why do some people suffer instead of or more than others...why does God give bad things to one and not the other? We all deserve bad things. We deserve worse b/c when we sin, as infinite beings we sin against 1st and foremost an infinite God, and therefore deserve to be punished infinitely. Anything less is God's grace and we should be thankful for it. There are several practical reasons as to why some suffer more than others that may? be helpful.First, one more premise. In times of suffering the Christian glorifies God by demonstrating that God is the foundation for their joy, not health, prosperity, or earthly or material pleasures. If the resurrection were not true, the Christian is a fool and should live an ordinary life. But, as Christians believe the resurrection is true, suffering is God’s gift (Philippians 1:29), and no Christian is “without cross-bearing and daily dying.” When a Christian rejoices in the midst of suffering, he glorifies God’s sovereignty. Suffering is not an accident, nor is it senseless. God will not turn away from the Christian. His grace is a “sustaining grace.” In the light of eternity, sufferings are brief and help refine and enable the Christian to glorify God in a deeper manner. To help the Christian believe that all things work together for the Christian's good, there are several reasons why suffering aids the Christian. 1) Romans 5:1–8 explains that suffering is part of God’s plan to produce perseverance for his name, and perseverance produces stronger faith in Christ and intensifies hope in the resurrection. 2) Philippians 3:1–8 states that suffering helps the Christian count all earthly treasures as loss for Christ. 3) Colossians 1:24–29 states that Paul “filled up” what was “lacking” in Christ’s afflictions, an evangelistic witness. 4) Second Corinthians 4:16–18 states that afflictions are light compared to future glory. 5) Philippians 3:7–8 states that knowing Christ surpasses all sufferings and losses. 6) Second Corinthians 12:9–10 explains that a Christian’s weakness magnifies the power of Christ by giving him the ability to endure.
Phil Hopkins ● 2421d