Protestants, why do some Christians suffer so much more than others? Yes, we all have our own trials, but there are a few Christians who, very obviously, suffer so much more and much more often too (I am not talking about &quot;bad choices&quot; either, so please do not even bring that up).
Are these tormented Christians cursed by God? Does satan just have a major vendetta towards them? Are they not &quot;truly&quot; saved? Is God punishing them for small sins, hates them, or what?
Not sure how else to ask this, so if any of the Stack Exchange contributors have any suggestions, please let me know.
Jesus warned his disciples that following Him would not be easy:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? (Matthew 16:24-26)

Jesus knew that many of his followers would be persecuted for righteousness’ sake:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John16:33).

Even the Apostle Paul had difficulties in his life – he was beaten, falsely accused, imprisoned and eventually killed because of his faith in Christ Jesus.  He also had a personal affliction which he had to bear.  Yet his faith never faltered:

Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his suffering, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11).

Does Satan just have a major vendetta towards them?  I think it’s fair to say that Satan hates all Christians and his aim is to destroy their faith and get them to renounce Christ Jesus.  He certainly tried his best to turn Job – but failed.
Are they not &quot;truly&quot; saved?  Satan would like Christians to question their salvation, to cast doubts into their minds, to make them stumble and fall.  But Satan is a liar, and the father of the lie.  Jesus promised that all who confess that He is the Son of God can be assured that He abides in them.
Are persecuted, suffering and tormented Christians cursed by God?  Is God punishing them for small sins, hates them, or what?  No.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in Him.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:15-21).

Christians suffer in this world, but this world and all that is in it will pass away; the kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36).
Christians who follow Christ do not see the things of this life, good or bad, as the end of the story. Even the sufferings we endure, as terrible as they can be, “are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).


And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:6)

A final word of encouragement: God has removed sin from all who have repented and turned to Him “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). This promise stands forever: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).  https://www.gotquestions.org/salvation-doubt.html
Conclusion: We do not know why some Christians suffer more than other Christians, but we know this:

In all things God works for the goodof those wholove him, who have been called according to his purpose...  If God is for us, who can be against us?  ...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convincedthat neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:28, 31,37-39).