Why do we suffer?

Over at the DG blog, John Piper writes about five R's that will help comfort us in times of sudden suffering. we may not always know the micro reasons for the suffering, but Scripture gives us several macro reasons. The fifth R caught my attention:

Reminder

Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification.

Philippians 3:10 - ...that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

What a double blessing. We can be sure that our suffering is NOT God's
condemnation. That is freeing. But even more, we can be filled with joy and
excitement that we are actually growing and maturing through the suffering.

Read about the other four R's.