Some readers will remember the title of a book written a few years back, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.”  There is also a book titled, “When Good Things Happen to Bad People.”  More people are interested in the first one because most people see themselves and those close to themselves as good and it drives them crazy that they suffer!  Suffering is bad.  Most of us are tired of suffering aren’t we?  Aren’t you grieved by war, cancer, poverty, hunger, hatred and death?  It simply will not do to say, “Oh, things really aren’t that bad…”  I’m an upbeat person for the most part but the suffering I see and pray about on a daily basis is a burden I can hardly bear some days.  Part of the struggle is the mystery of it all.  I know people with cancer right now that should be well and enjoying their service for God and the love of their family.  I know some people that are mean, churlish and unrepentant that don’t even get the stomach flu!  How can this be?  I don’t believe in “karma.”  Even a cursory study of history blows that foolishness away.  There is something else going on here.  There is a bigger story behind the one we see.  Years ago I had more answers about these things than I do today, partly because suffering challenges one’s “pat answers.”  Some things are simply not explainable from our vantage point.  One thing I know for sure, suffering always gets our attention.  Some people run to God in their troubles.  Some people blame Him and run from Him.  Some people get better and some people get bitter.  Being a Christian doesn’t fix everything and the Father’s intervention is not guaranteed (at least in the way we want it.) But here is something else I know for sure, Jesus arrived as Messiah 2,000 years ago and I really believe that what He did through His suffering has changed the lives of millions of people forever.  I also believe that suffering in this life has not been eliminated yet and that without it, many people would be oblivious to God’s mercy.  Let us pray that the suffering of this world will be used by God for good and that His mercies will be received.  The good news of Christmas is that the story is not over, the best is yet to come!  Even so Lord Jesus, quickly come!