Should you be asking for suffering to be relieved?

[Hikari]

Suppose someone has a certain condition that pains them and causes suffering. Should that person pray so that he may be healed or should he pray for strength deal with his problem?
Its confusing because Jesus says we should ask and we will be given but he also says to pick up our crosses and follow him. Also the church teaches that suffering is good. Its a form of prayer and can be offered up for things like the conversion of souls. So there is clearly a lot of good that comes from suffering and also we are never given a situation that we cannot handle. So really nobody should be asking for their suffering to be relieved as an intention in prayer, right?
Because that seems to be the main request in prayer, to be healthy. (This question can be extended to include others who are sick. Should I pray for them to be healthy or for the strength to deal with it?)
Thanks a lot!

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Do we pray for an end to suffering or strength to endure it? The answer is not either/or but rather both/and.

Many people in the Gospels asked Jesus to be relieved of their suffering and Jesus did not chastise them for doing so. But Jesus also taught that there is suffering in this fallen world that will not be changed until the arrival of the fullness of God’s kingdom. Even Jesus asked that if it be His Father’s will that the suffering of the Passion pass Him by but that ultimately He would fulfill the Father’s will no matter what it was (Mk 14:36; Mt 26:39; Lk 22:42).