The Scripture says that I prayed to the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But he said to me: "My grace is sufficient for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you." So I'm very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then the power of Christ will be able to live in me. (2 Cor. 12:8-9) My position is that although God did not create suffering or disability, He allows it to show this dying world what His grace, mercy, and redemptive power look like. Suffering is inevitable. It will affect every human being born into this world, one way or another. Suffering can come in many ways. It can be mental, emotional, physical and/or socioeconomic. Furthermore, the suffering could be hidden (internal) or apparent (external). People with mental and physical disabilities often suffer from them throughout their lives, and their suffering is much more intense and devastating. However, regardless of the type of suffering, we all need God and His word to comfort us in times of affliction. Although sin, suffering, and death were not part of God's original plan. He can use each of these things to bring glory to His name. While I don't believe God created suffering, but was introduced through the fall of man, he uses suffering to keep humanity humble, show us grace, and teach us how to truly love. On this earth everyone will suffer sooner or later, it is the consequence of living in a fallen world. There are countless stories of suffering scattered throughout the Bible. From the first sons (Cain and Abel) to the Apocalypse, there are tales of suffering. Why would God allow so much suffering in this world? If what he created was very good (Gen 1.31), why do we feel pain? Also, since there is…half of the paper…and we as a church must lead the way. I will culminate with this scripture in 1 Corinthians (21-27). The eye cannot say to the hand: “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet: “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem weakest are indispensable, and the parts that we deem less honorable we treat with special honor. And the unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God recomposed the body, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there was no division in the body, but its members had equal regard for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ and each of you is a part of it. (NIV)