What is a biblical perspective on suffering? What does the Bible say about suffering?

from the old testament

• Ultimately, all suffering is a result of the fall which occurred at the dawn of creation when the first man and the first woman chose to disobey their creator, God (Genesis 2:16–17; 3:6). The result of their disobedience was pain, suffering, and death for all of humanity thenceforth (Genesis 3:16–19).
• Christ suffered so that we could be saved (Isaiah 53:5–6).

from the new testament

• The earth itself was cursed as a result of the fall (Romans 8:20–21). So sometimes we suffer simply because we live in a world that is broken and where things are not as they should be.
• Everyone is born into a hostile world and has an innate hostility toward God Himself (Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21). This state of separation and alienation from God is perhaps the most painful suffering we can experience (Ephesians 2:12).
• Sometimes we suffer because someone sins against us. Sometimes we suffer the negative results of our own sin (James 1:12–15).
• Sometimes we suffer for our faith as a result of persecution (1 Peter 3:13–17). Second Timothy 3:12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Jesus told His followers they would face tribulation in the world, but that they could have peace in Him because He has overcome (John 16:33).
• God promised to be with His people through their earthly sufferings (Romans 8:18–30; 2 Corinthians 1:3–7).
• Our earthly suffering is temporal and cannot be compared with the transformation and joy we will experience for eternity in the world to come (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18; 1 Peter 1:6; 5:10).
• God sees the sufferings of His children and enables us to bear up under them (2 Timothy 4:17; 1 Peter 5:6–11).
• God redeems and uses our suffering for His good purposes (Romans 8:28).
• Suffering can be the result of God's discipline, which He does out of love (Hebrews 12:6–11). It could also be the result of His pruning to make us more fruitful (John 15:2).
• God uses trials and tribulations to mold us into the image of His perfect Son, sharpen our focus, develop our character, and strengthen our faith in Him and His promises (James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:6–7).
• God also uses suffering to keep us from pride and self-sufficiency and cause us to rely upon Him and His grace, which is the source of true spiritual strength (2 Corinthians 12:7–10).

implications for today

God did not leave us in such a painful state. Instead, He overcame the consequences of sin through His own suffering. God took on human flesh in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, and suffered the punishment which is due us. He who was without sin suffered the guilt, pain, and humiliation of having the sins of the world placed on Himself (2 Corinthians 5:16–21). Those who put their faith in Jesus are no longer under the curse of sin. Yet we do still live in a sin-stained world and suffer the effects of sin. Sometimes our suffering is a result of our own sinfulness. Sometimes it is a result of others sinning against us. Most times, suffering is a result of sin in a more general sense. The world is simply not as it should be so things like health issues, relational strife, and natural disasters exist.

God often uses suffering as a tool in the believer's life to mold, sharpen, and strengthen us. Regardless of the specific cause of our suffering, our Lord and Savior can understand, empathize, and sympathize with our suffering (Hebrews 4:15). In Christ, we are given consistent access to the throne of God (Hebrews 4:15–16; 10:19–23). We can, like the psalmists, pour out our hearts to God (Psalm 62) and trust that He is intimately aware of our sufferings and with us in them (Psalm 56).