In suffering we can be made to stay humble and not become arrogant because we have “it all together”. We are supposed to depend on God for all things in our lives and acknowledge that all things come from Him but many times we get “full of ourselves” when everything is “perfect”.
That christ is with us both in times of happiness and joy but also in our suffering which which creates endurance. As christian we are not exempt from suffering – rather when we suffer or are weak Gods strength is made perfect in weakness. during a time of sickness of grief we can have gods comfort.
The value of suffering is to make us depend in Christ and not in ourselves. In our weakness, God’s great power is made evident. Also, we go through suffering so that we may comfort others with the same comfort that we received in our suffering. Having experienced the death of my father and holding on to John 12:24, that a grain of wheat must die in order to produce fruit, I have been able to share with others who have lost their parents and to provide prayer or words of encouragement.
Late in 2003 I experience a health emergency which, historically, would have been fatal. That, which for many would be a source of anger, pain, and castigating God, became a time of growth, peace and sweetness in the Lord. I appreciated that personal physical suffering was an opportunity to grow in wisdom and in faith.
