It’s one thing to experience that type of suffering that we’re all prone to experience. Death of a loved one. Jarring news. Bitter disappointment. It’s quite another when we are hit in our very souls. When the very place in which we typically meet God with joy turns into a place of bitter anguish. That’s what happened to the Thessalonians. They were baby Christians being disciples by the great apostle Paul. Things were going splendid and then all of a sudden he was gone.
They were left alone.
After months go by that would certainly prove taxing. You’d begin to wonder if they were just those drive-by preachers who share truth that rocks your world and then they pick up and never come see you again.
Discipleship is important to God. So why did he leave the Thessalonians without one to disciple them?
That’s a question that kind of hangs over Thessalonians. And it’s a question that Paul needed to answer as he wrote to them. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17—3:13 I see at least six positive things which God has brought out of their season of suffering.
1. It set their eyes on eternity. (2:19) Suffering exposes our theology and it reveals to us where we are really setting our hope. Suffering has a way of propelling us to look forward to the day when we stand before Christ.
2. It reminded them of their sojourner status. (3:4) In the brief bit of time that Paul had with the Thessalonians he told them about our call to suffer. Why is that? Simply because this world is not our home and suffering will be out lot until we experience glory.
3. It deepened their relationship. This time of separation and suffering actually increased their love for one another. Perhaps Paul and the Thessalonians would have never developed such a deep affection for one another apart from that separation at the beginning.
4. It increased their comfort and joy in Christ. (3:6-7)
I’m told that there is a type of bird who is a bit scared to leave the nest. But mama bird knows that baby can leave the nest, so she starts to slowly but surely pluck away and tear the nest out from under the little bird. It’s the same thing with our faith. What the Lord often does is put us through the kiln of suffering because of what happens on the other side. The dross is burned away and our faith become more solid. Suffering can strengthen our joy.
5. It emboldened their prayer. Paul prayed earnestly day and night for the Thessalonians. Suffering has a way of enlivening our prayer life.
6. It heightened the display of God’s glory. This whole thing was about showing how amazing and tender and glorious and powerful God is in the life of His children. Their feeble little spark was able to survive. They shouldn’t have made it—but they did. Not because Paul or other great disciplers. They made it because Jesus is faithful to His promise. And the Thessalonians are a testament of the faithfulness of God to his sheep even when they have to go through difficult seasons without an under-shepherd.
I’m sure at the time it was difficult for both Paul and the Thessalonians to see the goodness of God in their circumstances. And when you’re in the fire it isn’t really the time to interpret. You just hang on for dear life and unashamedly cling to the goodness of God. You won’t be giving an account about how well you interpreted God’s actions. But we will be held to account for how we clung to Jesus even when things didn’t exactly make sense. Use the story of the Thessalonians as another reason to tighten your grip on God (because He’s not letting you go).
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