Human Suffering as an Experience of Trial and Faith

Abstract

The reality of suffering poses an existential question about one of the most common experiences of humankind. The why of human suffering raises the question of God’s nature: Why does God not intervene in the midst of human suffering? Suffering comes in a variety of forms but it always remains a fundamental question for humanity. This reflection explores various attempts to answer the question of why we suffer. Considering the question from biblical and theological perspectives we see that suffering is intrinsic to human nature. We understand that God allows us to suffer for a good purpose. And suffering can be an opportunity for maturation, an occasion to direct one’s life to the essential. So, suffering is a natural occurrence in an evolving world; suffering is an effect of creativity in sinful freedom. Man experiences suffering because of free will and human responsibility. With Job, suffering remains a mystery, which God does not reveal. The best answer to the ‘why of suffering’ is in the revelation of the divine love