As Christians, how do you suffer?

y'know, my dad always said that he wanted us kids to have the things they couldn't have when they were kids, and taught us to avoid the mistakes they made so we wouldn't suffer like they did. my dad also never spoke a word of a lie to me in 27 years. what kind of parent does that make 'God' to 'his' children? 'you can't be happy and i won't love you unless you suffer horribly.' hey, if that works for you, okay. not my cup of poison, though.