God's purpose in creating us?

What was God's purpose in creating us?

Why did He create us the way we are? If He is all-powerful, He could have created us perfect. He could have made a world without pain, suffering, fear, or evil. Why, then, is life filled with so many hardships and injustices?

Is there a deeper purpose behind all of this, or is existence simply a form of divine entertainment? If not, what is the true reason for our creation, and why is suffering woven into the human experience?