Seems like those who do the greatest good for God’s kingdom also suffer the most. Indeed, this seeming injustice has contributed to many a saint bailing on God, defecting from the Christian faith. I can understand the disillusionment these folks feel; suffering while serving God — or even while just being a decent, responsible citizen — is something we don’t like; it just doesn’t make any sense humanly speaking.
This being said, I can also put my finger on an important reason why those who once walked with Jesus turn their backs on him when fiery trials assail, be it upon them or some other caring, innocent, good-hearted person: they have simply forgotten that we live in sin-impregnated, fallen, satanically influenced, imperfect, world. Both the good and the bad suffer. As Jesus put it: The sun shines on everyone; the rain also falls on everyone.
If you (or someone you know) are in a dark valley at this time, bear in mind what Christian songwriter Terry Scott Taylor has said: “There’s not a holy man who doesn’t know grief well; or think the road to heaven doesn’t pass through hell; they’ve cried ‘Let me out’ — They’ve heard ‘No, not yet.’ They know before He danced Jesus wept.”
While suffering is the part we don’t like as Christians, our consolation is that: God has sovereignly decreed all trials and suffering will work for our good and His glory in the end (I Corinthians 10:13); there is the purpose behind each struggle (Romans 8:28); it is through struggle that we are brought to maturity (James 1:2-4).