excerpt from restoring broken things by steven curtis chapman and scotty smith:
"WHY THESE THINGS HAPPEN:
Reflections on the Asian Crisis, Suffering, and the Purposes of God
(2 Corinthians 1:1-11; 8:1-9; 9:6-15)
As we remain stunned in the aftermath and the inconceivable devastation from the Asian tsunami, how can we possibly know what to feel?? How do we make sense of such a tragic event and the incalculable suffering? The gospel frees us from all pretending and trying to put an acceptable spin on this story. We're not supposed to likethese kinds of things. We're not supposed to reach for a spiritual band-aid or easy answer. While God certainly works all things for good of those who love him (Romans 8:28), some things in and of themselves are not good. Period. Thankfully, Jesus calls us and frees us to engage with, not escape from, the overwhelming tragedies and the great sufferings of life.
... As I enter Paul's story, I am reminded, encouraged, and convicted to see how he responded to difficult questions about suffering and the crises we experience in life as followers of Jesus - just like the ones before us now. Here's the first thing that strikes m: when confronted with confusing, even biting, questions about his own suffering and great suffering in the world, Paul didnt offer philosophical explainations, but teleological reasons. Let me explain.
In essence, a life shaped by teleology is a life lived along a story line - a life lived with a view to the future. The Greek word teleos means "end" or "goal". When used in the context of biblical faith and our relationship with Jesus, it presupposes that history has meaning and people have meaning, and that all things are to be understood in light of God's ultimate purposes revealed in Jesus.
Though Paul was a profoundly gifted scholar and philosopher, who could give well-reasoned and impressive answers to difficult queries, he chose to respond to the Corinthians not in terms of intellectual notions, but in terms of redemptive narrative. By doing this, Paul modeled the important difference between asking the self-centered question, "Why me, Lord?" versus the God-centered question, "What now, Lord?"
Basically, it's the difference between expecting "because" answers to difficult questions versus looking for "so that" answers to difficult events. "Because" answers focus on giving a good reason; "so that" answers are more concerned about giving a godly response.
...
In 2 Corinthians, Paul deals with a series of challenging questions that emrge within the storyline of the letter.

Paul, why did you suffer so greatly in Asia? (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)
Instead of offering a "because" answer to this important question such as, "This happened because we didn't have enough faith;" or "because we live in a fallen world;" or "because our obedience was imcomplete," Paul gave a 'so that" response. "This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead" (2 Corinthians 1:9 NIV, emphasis mine).
What an amazing response! In essence, here's what Paul was saying: "Why did I suffer in Asia? So that I might fully enter into God's Story of making all things new... God will always bring us to the end of ourselves so that we might rely upon Jesus and identify more fully with His purposes and passions."

Paul, if Jesus already suffered for us, why do we continue to suffer so much in life? (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)
"We suffer with Christ abundantly in this broken world and are comforted by our merciful Father so that we might be better equipped to enter into the sufferings of others and comfort them with the very comfort God brings us through Jesus.
"Jesus didn't die so that we would escept suffering in this world, but to eliminate suffering in the world to come. He is preparing us to enter in more fully to the sufferings of others, so that we might share the gospel with them and bring His restorative mercy and grace to their broken situation.

Paul, if we are going to suffer abundantly, why pray? What good will it do? (2 Corinthians 1:11)
"God did not give us prayer as a pragmatic took for getting out way, but as a providential means of revealing His glory. There fore, 'You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many' (emphasis mine). Prayer will expand our hearts to ther greater good God is up to, which always includes more people than us."