Xanthe Hancox

We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.  1 Thessalonians 3:1-4

If you’ve been reading Thessalonians with me you’ll know that Paul’s problem is that he is separated from the Thessalonian Christians by distance and circumstances. Sitting in Athens with no Skype, Facebook or Whatsapp, he feels powerless to help them in their troubles. Paul decides to send Timothy to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonian believers, and he gives us quite a lot of insight about trials and suffering.

Firstly, trials will come. No sooner had the Thessalonians trusted in Jesus when the bottom seemed to fall out of their lives. The “troubles” that Paul is referring to are the sufferings the Thessalonians experienced because of their faith in the Lord Jesus. Some of us will face these kind of trials from our family members, co-workers, and classmates. We may also face other trials such as terminal illness, financial difficulties, trauma, death of a loved one, or divorce.

Secondly, trials can unsettle the most committed of Christians. Again and again, Paul tells the Christians that they would face trials. He knew our human tendency to blame God or lose faith in difficult times, so he sends Timothy to make sure the Thessalonians would be adequately prepared to  stand firm when things got tough.

And thirdly, trials aren’t just bad luck. Paul wants to reassure his friends that the troubles they’re going through aren’t arbitrary accidents, blind acts of fate, or the result of bad karma, but that suffering is a consequence of being a follower of Jesus and part of the common experience of Christians everywhere.

Perhaps you are going through a particularly difficult time today. Remember how Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to persevere at such times. Remember that God is your source of grace and peace and endurance. Remember that God is at work in your life in developing character and maturity.

Like the Thessalonians, we can be so occupied with our own trials that we forget about our hope for the future. Remember too that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times when trials have made me hard of heart, give me the grace to persevere and to know that you are growing me to more like Jesus. Amen