Do you think that pain, illness & suffering can lead you to be closer to God?

I think it does. But not really by choice, but a lack thereof. I believe it's God's way to remind people that He does exist and that we can find comfort in Him. When there's nobody else to turn to, and there's nothing much that can be done,all that's left is Him. But it's really sad that one has to be sick just to get closer to God.

Pain, illness, and suffering can lead one closer to G-d; it can also lead people away from G-d. I think whether it draws you closer to G-d, or away from G-d, may depend on your relationship with G-d at the time. I know the years that my ex suffered terrible pain and disability that left him home and unable to work for a number of years seemed to keep him from G-d. The root of his problem was that he blamed G-d for his problems [a long story that I won't go into now]. I haven't suffered the pain and disability that my ex did, so I am in no place to judge him. I do know that the pain that I have suffered caused me to cry out to G-d and look to Him for strength and healing. While it is true that suffering and disease are not from G-d, I believe they are allowed in our lives for a purpose. They are part of the 'fires' that we go through to purify us, build character, and virtue, such as patience. One thing that pain and suffering does is strip away the falseness that we often surround ourselves with so that we have to deal with our own reality. Then, it is our choice as to how we deal with the 'real me'; do we embrace how we are or do we choose to change those areas we don't like in ourselves. There is no formula here - everyone is unique, both in how they deal with pain and suffering, and how they deal with G-d in the midst of their pain and suffering. When we pray for the sick at our synagogue, we pray for them to be blessed with a renewal of body and a renewal of spirit, and the strength to go through what it is they are suffering with and that G-d would help them to make their lives a blessing. One of the problems people face when they deal with such pain and suffering, is it focuses them on themselves; it sometimes helps in their own healing when they can become a blessing to others.

God is Love and Laughter, not pain and suffering! If you are suffering and in pain, its a sign that you need to get back to God. God is all that is good, like health and happiness, good will, and Forgiveness. Disease is the darkness, solitude, and suffering that comes from a disassociation with God. Get back to God, and be healthy, and happy!

i believe that pain doesn't lead to god,some people do believe that it will lead to god but i think that is nonsense how can one go to god with suffering? but illness does give one a chance and mainly time to look back into his past behavior in this busy "no time to spare" lifestyle of people.