That’s the question we’re discussing as we look at Isaiah 52:13-53:12 today on The Hero of the Story. But, in the midst if all this pain and confusion, we are not alone. One of the counterintuitive truths about suffering is that it prepares Christians for more glory. The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy to not be ashamed but to be willing to suffer for preaching the truth, and in this message Alistair Begg explores how that relates to our lives today. In verse 8, Paul exhorts Timothy not to “be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.” Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense. In other words, there is a unitive dimension of suffering for the sake of the Gospel that binds believers to Jesus and to one another, as well. Therefore we should not be ashamed of it—even as suffering comes. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can be difficult to talk about – its message may be foreign or even offensive to others. S.H., USA, writes: Dear CMI, Firstly I want to thank you so much for your ministry and what you do; your efforts have produced much fruit, and have helped me to take Scripture seriously at its claims, with evidence. In the Greek text, verses 8-11 are a single sentence. The Gospel changes cultures, and suffering is real. Out of nowhere, death, illness, unemployment, or a difficult relationship can change our lives and challenge everything we thought we knew—leaving us feeling unable to cope. In Christ, we are chosen, saved, and kept by the gospel. By Paul David Tripp. Sometimes life just hurts. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that … We had better present a gospel that is worth suffering for! Why does God allow suffering—including the suffering of Jesus?