It isn’t only the quality of the character of the person suffering that’s being tested, but the quality of those around them. Every incidence of suffering is an opportunity for those around the person suffering to show compassion and to help them overcome their problems to the best of their abilities. The quality of compassion in a person’s character shows up much more clearly when some of those around them are suffering so it has cause to be displayed.

Of course, suffering can lead to a feeling of helplessness and being overwhelmed and other emotional pain on the part of some of those who witness it. Yet it may be an opportunity for compassion on the part of others with better training and resources who are witnessing the same suffering, or an inspiration for others to develop the means of helping such people.

Suffering can also be a means of developing compassion in people that makes for less selfish and more caring individuals than a perfect world would, although maybe some personality types are more likely to be inspired to greater compassion by suffering than others.

I believe that failing to take opportunities to try to help others in the face of clear need when it’s in a person’s power to do so, as well as deliberately causing harm, will be judged, according to the degree of negligence or evil committed.

But suffering is also an opportunity for acts of personal heroism and compassion, and I believe that people will be eternally rewarded according to how much they show.

“Great beauty, great strength, and great riches are really and truly of no great use; a right heart exceeds all.”  -  Benjamin Franklin