Romans 8:23,
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
You grow from suffering, why? Because suffering teaches you obedience. Jesus learned obedience from suffering why would we to be any different. Do you know how suffering lets up, you learn obedience. I'm sure there are other ways to learn but suffering will bring obedience. Have you ever been around those that have suffered and the humility they have and humbleness, you can feel it.
When I was in prison ministry I was impressed by this, it was my first experience in seeing how suffering had it's effects on us. Obedience may still be coming with some but they were well on there way. You need to know something about the prison system and it's effects on inmates before you judge the whole lot. We are quick to say throw the key away, but we don't know What the father is doing.
Alot of what we call God's judgement is nothing more than suffering that is built into creation, such as; a storm brewing or an earthquake or some tradgic event. They are all part of creation, does God use such events in the lives of people, sure he does. But he does not cause them, not since the cross, he uses the schoolhouse now, the world as a teacher.
The difference between the world and the believer when they suffer; the believer has the shed blood of Jesus and is a bonified offspring of God the father. The world does not have the blood and the suffering will continue. Why suffering in the world, to bring the non-believer to Christ. Why does a believer suffer, to teach them obedience. If you look at the prodigal son passage you will see it starts out with a certain man having two son's, Luke 15:11-12,
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living
Now the real word's here you should fix your mind on are "two son's and the younger of them." Real word's because there we're two son's, not a saint and sinner as supposed by some. "The younger of them" because there is something in the father to where he always chooses the younger. Think of the choosing of others like Joseph or the son of Jesse are some that come to mind. The youngest and least expected in a large family. Mary, I dont know where she was in her family line but look at her age.
The podical just thought he was living it up, but in reality the father had a plan.
