Pastor Arek O'Connell explains that suffering is a real, complex, and deeply personal experience—and there are no simple answers that fit every situation. He emphasizes that God is not the cause of suffering; instead, suffering exists because sin entered the world, making pain, brokenness, and injustice a reality for everyone. 

While there’s no simple answer, he offers several possible reasons God allows it: it can increase hope, draw us closer to God and others, reorient our lives, and sometimes lead to growth. 

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