Stuart, the difficulty is not that the answer is too hard, or that the answer is beyond you (or me, for that matter), the problem is that the answer isn't really knowable. We can take some guesses, but there's no way to verify their accuracy. If you look at scripture, you'll see that God allows suffering to happen -- and this is normal. A lot of preachers like to preach about how wonderful life is, and how perfect everything is, and how the grace is God is always happiness and joy. In reality, it isn't always bowls of cherries and fields of wildflowers. Paul talks about all kinds of personal misery, for example. There are sometimes reasons given for the suffering, but not always. The point that LenDaddy is trying (tactlessly) to make, is that the unverifiable nature of the answer makes the question like asking "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" It's a fun discussion for a bunch of drunk theologians, but profits little. (sigh)
But I'll humor you, Stu, 'coz I think you're alright.
I know you have a Bible handy. Let's pick one random example of suffering from scripture. Check out John chapter 11, tell me why Jesus let Lazarus die. We could also look at Genesis 3, Job, Ecclesiastes, or Romans (6, 8, and ... 9?), and get some answers too, but we'll start with John 11, 'coz it's easy.
BTW, BillyBoy, if you have your Bible handy, you might take a look at Romans 8:28. If your Bible isn't convenient, nevermind.
Dan