How you approach the problem of suffering depends on how you approach life itself. There are only two ways. Either meaning is surrounded by matter, or matter is surrounded by meaning.
The greatest Christians in history seem to say that their sufferings ended up bringing them the closest to God - so this is the best thing that could happen, not the worst.
Kindness-mere kindness-cannot tolerate suffering. Love can.
Suffering is not blessed because it is suffering but because it is [Christ's]. Suffering is not the context that explains the cross; the cross is the context that explains suffering.
Christ transforms the meaning and value of suffering from something to be feared or at best endured into something redemptive [and transformative].
A God who did not abolish suffering-worse , a God who abolished sin precisely by suffering-is a scandal to the modern mind.
Since we are [Christ's] body, we too are the bread that is broken for others. Our failures help heal other lives; our very tears help wipe away tears; our being hated helps those we love.
The solution to our suffering is our suffering!
