Reason for Suffering (5) - Final

I heard a pastor preaching about a year ago and i still clearly remember the analogy up till today. The Surgical trial and the Mugger's trial.The surgical trial is a typical trial suffered by a typical Christian. A sick person undergoes a surgeon's knife improve his condition. Pain will be part and parcel of process. He may moan about it but he needs to go through it so as to be better. Similarly a christian undergoes pain in a trial, but at the end of it, he becomes a better person.A mugger's trial is about a person who is mugged for no rhyme or reason. It is "by chance" that he is selected as a taret, and robbed. He may be shot and money stolen. He feels pain, and in the end, he does not become a better person. but maybe a much more careful person.
Christians need to differentiate whether their friends are going through a surgical trial or a mugger's trial. Many people does not, but now I know!
When your friend goes through a mugger's trial, just by being there is enough. You may want to pray for God to give him/her strength. Doing more may make matters worse! Always think "Do I sound like Job's friends?" If you do, just shut up and simply be there for your friend. That means more to the person going through a mugger's trial.
So what is the conclusion. What is the reason of suffering? Only people who goes through it really understands. Its not for discussion!