Get the Workbook | Facilitator Guide | Sooner or later, everyone suffers. No matter how successful someone is, or how perfect their life might look, they have or will experience loss, pain, and suffering in some way. You are almost an adult, and to this point in your life you may not have experienced any real trials, or you may have endured—and still may be enduring—genuine hardships. Why does God allow this to happen? How can we make sense of suffering in the world as Christians? In this chapter, we will take a closer look at three Christian insights into suffering as we begin to answer the question of why God would allow it to happen. We will also look at common misunderstandings of why there is suffering in the world, and why they are incompatible with who God is.
In this episode you will learn that ...
■ Jesus Himself endured great suffering.
■ By reflecting on Christ’s Suffering, Death, and Resurrection, we can gain three special insights in reflecting on the meaning of suffering.
1. The Resurrection of Jesus and the suffering He endured for our sake perfectly reveals God’s unconditional love for us.
2. Suffering is far from meaningless; it helps us move toward our eternal salvation.
3. There will be no suffering in our own resurrection.
■ Suffering is not only experienced by the unjust, and not solely the result of Original Sin.
■ God may cause suffering directly if it is for our salvation and does not interfere with our freedom.
■ Humility and trust must always be the basis of our relationship with God. As this relationship grows, it becomes more possible for us to endure suffering peacefully without understanding why it is happening.
About Fr Spitzer: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 16, 1952, Fr. Spitzer is a Catholic priest in the Jesuit order and is currently the President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith (magiscenter.com). The Magis Center produces documentaries, books, high school programs, college courses, adult-education programs, and social media materials on the close connection among science, reason, and faith. Fr. Spitzer is also the President, Master of Ceremonies, and speaker at the Napa Institute (napa-institute.org).