No Kim... you need to pray and ask God to reveal this to you.
We aren't getting credit for anything. It's not about us, it is about our hearts growing in love for others.
God gave our suffering means and purpose. He changed the whole economy of evil and suffering for us.
He didn't remove it, although He could, He left it with us and He Himself enter into it.
When we join Christ and suffer with Him on the cross, we are in union with Him, we are one with Our Lord and it's our Lord, not us who gives our suffering a higher purpose.
I know you have such a strong stumbling block that's a bias and resentment for Catholicism but I pray Kim, you get rid of it and you will just be a bit more open minded and allow God to speak to your heart. Catholicism is the truth and I pray you will allow yourself to let God show you that.
You don't suffer for nothing, just to suffer. You can join it to Christ and together as one, the grace can change hearts and minds. Because that is what the Cross is, grace that changes hearts and minds.
Next time you experience great pain, think of the Lord coming to you with His crown of thorns and asking you if you would wear it for a while, for the purpose of many hearts coming to know who He is.
I can tell you if you open yourself up to this, you will feel a closeness with Christ you never knew you could feel. You will also know what it is to give your life, to suffer for the sake of another and that is the essense of growing in God's love, to love others to the point you are willing to suffer for them. Can't get anymore Christ like than that.