Why does God allow suffering and persecution?

Other times, God uses suffering and persecution in our lives to perfect us, to make us like His Son. This building of our character to match that of Christ is one of His desires, and to do that, at times, He must use suffering and/or persecution.

We are told by Jesus and Paul, who both experienced suffering, to expect it. (See John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12.) God does not allow suffering without a purpose. God will allow these things to increase our faith in Him and to strengthen our dependence on Him. The way to get through suffering is to develop an eternal perspective that is fueled by our joy in Him. This is how the disciples were able to be wrongfully accused and beaten and then come out rejoicing. They rejoiced for being considered worthy of persecution for Jesus’ name. (See Acts 5:41.)

Then there is suffering and persecution for the sake of reproduction. The world is watching, and when it sees us receive suffering and persecution wrongfully, yet receive it with love and joy for Jesus, it will cause some to desire what we have. Christ can be reproduced in the life of another because of how you endured suffering. With God, through Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit in us, there is sanctification in suffering, and there is purpose in persecution. So, praise Him! (See Romans 8:18.)