John Piper is way more eloquent on this point than I could ever be, so listen in on how he says it: God never wastes the gift of suffering (Philippians 1:29). It is given to His ministers as He knows best, and its design is the consolation and salvation of our people. No pastoral suffering is senseless. No pastoral pain is pointless. No adversity is absurd and meaningless. Every heartache has its divine target in the consolation of the saints, even when we feel least useful.9
