Sometimes we wonder why bad things happen to good people. Although I don't know all the answers, I think this is why:

"Until I learned to trust,
I did not learn to pray,
And I did not learn to fully trust
Til sorrows came my way.
Until I felt my weakness,
His strength I never knew,
Nor dreamed till i was stricken
That He would see me through.
Who deepest drinks of sorrow
Drinks deepest too of grace,
He sends the storm so He Himself
Can be our hiding place.
His heart that seeks our highest good
Knows well when things annoy,
We would not long for heaven
If earth held only joy."
-Barbara Ryberg

Why would we long for heaven if all on earth was joy? Why would we want to be with God when we easily felt at peace and happy with everything. I think we experience pain, loss and suffering so that we can look forward to what God has for us in heaven: perfection.