| Suffering is helpful when: | Suffering is harmful when: |
| We turn to God for understanding, endurance, and deliverance | We become hardened and reject God |
| We ask important questions we might not take time to think about in our normal routine | We refuse to ask any questions and miss any lessons that might be good for us |
| We are prepared by it to identify with and comfort others who suffer | We allow it to make us self-centered and selfish |
| We are open to being helped by others who are obeying God | We withdraw from the help others can give |
| We are ready to learn from a trustworthy God | We reject the fact that God can bring good out of calamity |
| We realize we can identify with what Christ suffered on the cross for us | We accuse God of being unjust and perhaps lead others to reject him |
| We are sensitized to the amount of suffering in the world | We refuse to be open to any changes in our lives |