Standing Firm in Suffering
September 20 | Rick Thiemke
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1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:13
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
Paul's Longing to See Them Again
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 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. 5 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.
Timothy's Encouraging Report
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
The church in Thessalonica was learning very quickly that following Jesus did not make life easier. Their allegiance to Jesus as King had brought opposition and suffering. Paul had been forced to leave them, his attempts to return had been frustrating and he was deeply concerned that their suffering might cause their young faith to collapse.
Yet something remarkable was happening. They were still standing.
Paul begins by thanking God that they had received his message “not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God,” which was now “at work” in them (verse 13). The gospel had given them more than new beliefs. It had given them a new story through which they could understand their lives, including their suffering.
Jesus Meets Us In Our Suffering
The Thessalonians were suffering specifically because they belonged to Jesus (verses 14-16). Paul never minimizes their pain or suggests that stronger faith would make it disappear. Instead, he reminds them that suffering does not mean something has gone wrong with God’s purposes. Jesus Himself suffered and was crucified before being raised in victory. Paul even warned them that following Jesus would sometimes bring affliction (3:3-4).
Our suffering takes many forms. Illness, grief, broken relationships, financial pressure, career setbacks, loneliness, anxiety, depression and disappointment can shake us deeply. One of the hardest things about suffering is not simply what is happening to us. It is what we begin to believe because it is happening to us.
God has forgotten me. Nothing will change. I cannot endure this. Maybe God is not as good as I believed. I might deserve this.
Scripture gives us a larger story. Paul writes to the Church in Rome that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39). Suffering is real, but suffering does not get to tell us what is ultimately true. Jesus does.
Jesus Gives Us One Another to Stand Firm
Paul desperately wanted to return to Thessalonica, but was unable to do so (verses 17–18). Finally, he sent Timothy “to establish and exhort” them in their faith (3:2). Timothy eventually returned with wonderful news: they were still trusting Jesus (3:6). Their faith encouraged Paul so deeply that he wrote, “For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord” (3:8).
This is a beautiful picture of Christian community. There are seasons when my faith helps carry you, and there are seasons when your faith helps carry me. When we suffer, our instinct can be to withdraw. Yet God often strengthens us through the presence, prayers, encouragement and faith of others. “Bear one another’s burdens,” Paul writes elsewhere, “and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
Paul ends this section looking beyond their present suffering toward “the coming of our Lord Jesus” (3:13). Their suffering is real, but it is not the end of their story.
Neither is ours.
We do not know when our suffering will end. But we know where the story ends. Jesus will return, His Kingdom will come in fullness and God will make all things new (Revelation 21:5).
Until then, we stand firm in Jesus. We help one another stand firm. And we keep our eyes on the coming King.
Discussion Questions
What has suffering tempted you to believe about God, yourself or your future?
How have you experienced Jesus meeting or forming you in the middle of something you would never have chosen?
How can we help one another stand firm in Jesus when suffering makes faith difficult?