Why do some of God's people suffer?

Q: Why do some of God’s people struggle with cancer or other diseases? I know he is a loving God, but it just doesn’t seem right.

A: It is true that Christians get sick just like anyone else. And you are right that God is very loving. But as to it not seeming right…I’m not so sure how to answer that. Did God intend for there to be disease and death in the world? No. Sickness and death entered the creation through sin (Genesis 3) and no one is exempt. But God set in motion a plan of redemption that culminated in Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins. He knows what it means to suffer, and to die a horrible excruciating death. He can sympathize with us and He doesn’t leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) no matter how difficult things get.

If Christians didn’t go through suffering like everyone else, then how would they be able to minister comfort and encouragement to those who do suffer? It is because we go through tough times and are comforted by the Lord that we are able to comfort others. As it is written,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort." (2 Cor. 1:3-7 ESV)


We are also not without hope in our sickness, for Jesus Christ is our healer! If you read the gospels, you will see Jesus moved by compassion for the sick and healing everyone who came to him… and He never changes (Hebrews 13:8)! Even if we are not physically healed right now, as Christians we still have nothing to fear as we pass through the thin veil of death into eternity with the Lord into a new creation…free of sickness and death! It is true that we may face short-term suffering and pain in this life. But remember that we are not alone, nor are we without hope…in this life and in the next!