Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—February 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ

February 5, 1 Thessalonians 3

Adversity is an unavoidable part of life. Living in a flesh body in a fallen world filled with imperfect people, it is impossible to escape trouble. As Longfellow put it, “Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary.” Following Jesus does not vaccinate us against trouble. In fact, living for Jesus may attract some troubles that the world would not inflict on its own.

Affliction had been a way of life for the Thessalonian Christians since Paul came to town and taught them the gospel. Was he still bruised or limping from the beating he received in Philippi when he arrived? Within three weeks, the local Jews had started trouble, saying that Paul and Silas were turning the world upside down and accusing them of acting against the decrees of Caesar. Paul and Silas left town under cover of darkness, leaving behind a little group of new believers in a troubled environment. He warned them that trouble was coming, and it came.

Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to establish and exhort the young Christians in their faith. He wanted to know about their faith, and he rejoiced when Timothy brought back a good report about their faith. He was eager to get back to them to supply what was lacking in their faith. Why all the concern about their faith? It’s not because faith is a spiritual mosquito net, keeping the buzzing troubles away from us. Instead, faith is the lens through which we view trouble, and the weapon by which we overcome adversity.

Faith enables us to see two forces at work, both with a purpose in mind for the troubles that come to us in life. Satan wants to destroy us. The tempter will use trouble to suggest that God is not good and cannot be trusted. Satan’s goal is to break down our faith through discouraging circumstances. On the other hand, God’s purpose for trouble is to develop us into the people he wants us to be. He builds our character and develops our reliance on him through our experience of adversity. Trusting God through affliction connects us to his power to endure it. Like a precious metal purified by intense heat, we are tempered by the negative experiences of life. If we are to be strengthened instead of weakened by adversity, we need faith in what God has promised and confidence in his faithfulness.

Habakkuk said it in the Old Testament and it is echoed in the New: “the just shall live by faith.” That’s true about every part of life. It’s especially true when we cannot see or understand why God allows suffering and trouble to come into our lives. Our faith gives us peace in the midst of pain, calmness in the face of calamity. When we trust God completely, we will believe that he can and will bring what’s best for us out of what seems to be the worst.

From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.