Innocent people suffer because of sin in the world.  Sin is allowed to persist in the present age so that God’s plan to ultimately defeat evil can be worked out.  Were God to simply annihilate evil in an instant, He would subsequently destroy all freedom.  Without freedom there can be no love; if there is no love, then God is not good.  If God is not good, then He lied at each pronouncement of “good” in creation.  The logical end of this line of reason is that God’s actions and purpose in creation is entirely good.  That purpose is simply to have fellowship with man; therefore, whatever is necessary to secure that fellowship is righteous and good.  Christ’s sufferings comprise the sum total of all that was sufficient and necessary to secure man’s salvation.

Where do we draw the line on suffering?  Is the pain of stubbing ones big toe too much suffering, tummy aches, cancer, death?  Who has the authority and knowledge to rightly make the distinction between the right amount of suffering and too much suffering?  Suffering prompts us to dependence on God, which inevitably brings Him glory.  When God is glorified, people are saved.  Suffering and God’s glory are related in a way that is difficult to ponder and accept in human terms, but inextricably linked in spiritual terms.  If it’s good enough for Jesus, then it’s good enough for me.