Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Have you ever found yourself in a difficult season, shared with a friend about it, and received something that sounded like, “well, life is hard. Suck it up”? In the first couple chapters of 1 Thessalonians, Paul has made clear notation of the persecution that the Church in Thessalonica endures. In the verses above, Paul reminds them that he warned them that suffering would come just as it has always come to followers of Jesus.* Indeed, Jesus Himself endured great suffering even in the initiation of the rule of His Kingdom.*
In these reminders of the guarantee of suffering for believers, Paul gives his “life is hard” speech. Unlike many other leaders or friends that you may have experienced, Paul’s reaction is not to shut down their emotions, belittle or minimize their difficulty, or use it as an opportunity to shame them. No, he recognizes the risk of the attack of the enemy on them (even while Satan prevents Paul and Silas from going to them).*
Furthermore, Paul bursts with care, sending Timothy to their aid to encourage and assess their current situation.* The care of this move by Paul and Silas to send Timothy (their younger protégé) is understood when we understand that Paul and Silas sent Timothy alone on a trip while leaving themselves alone in a foreign land.* The danger of both situations could not be understated as traveling alone or staying in a foreign land was not without risk.*
Why does this matter to us today? Paul reflects the heart of God for you and me. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit as comforter (John 14:26). He did not send the Holy Spirit to remove all suffering from this life, but to help us to walk through it. Rescue will come one day upon the return of Jesus, but until that time, God could not just sit around while we suffer. He sent the Holy Spirit for you and me.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow God to comfort you by receiving the work of the Holy Spirit just as the Church in Thessalonica needed to receive the work of Timothy. Perhaps today God wants you to know that though this life includes suffering, you are not alone. Maybe God wants you to go and encourage someone else who is going through difficulty.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 97–99). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 135–139). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 156–165). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 273–282). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 68–72). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 95–102). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 206–218). Baker Academic.