What are crosses for? What's the use of suffering? When I was younger, I was afraid of being "saintly good".  I was afraid because I've read how much holy people suffered, how they endured so much pain.

In my mind too, I was not able to reconcile God's goodness with Him allowing these people to suffer so much.  Was He a sadistic god who took pleasure in seeing us get hurt?  And if this be so, is suffering good?  If suffering is good, why then are we so opposed against the many evils in this world that causes so much suffering and hurt to people?

Herein is my answer many years hence.  Suffering is not good.  It was not God's will that we undergo this suffering, but it could not be avoided, because this suffering resulted from our own choice back there in the Garden of Eden.

Yet though this be so, God can always use all things, even suffering, to bring about a better good.  It can purify us, it can urge us to seek what's really important in this life, it can help us find our way back to the God who loves us with a love beyond anybody could ever give us.

Why do the saints suffer? 

1.  They suffer because they are still a part of this world, a world of duality, a world of imperfection, a world where darkness is still mingled with the light. 

2.  They suffer because they took upon themselves the suffering that should have fallen upon another.  And isn't this the way to authentic love?  They do not deserve this suffering.  But they voluntarily gave of themselves in order to help another, in order to lift up those who cannot help themselves.

3.  They suffer because God has allowed it for their better good.  I've noticed that the weight of one's cross is always in proportion to one's strength.  And this is not only because of the fact that greater strength will enable one to carry a heavier cross.  This cross is also used by God to temper our pride, our boasting of our own beauty, when we are already able to accomplish so much.  This cross reminds us that everything comes from God, and without Him, we are sure to fall.

Carrying a heavy burden?  Pray, and you may realize that the cross you carry is also a blessing and a grace that will bring you immeasurable eternal bliss.

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"The world breaks everyone and afterwards many are strong at the broken places." - ERNEST HEMINGWAY