The 2nd letter to the church in Thessalonica was sent shortly after the first. This was a young church who had many questions in the face of tribulation. They thought the day of the Lord had come and they were left in their suffering. Paul writes this letter to answer their questions and comfort the church.
What’s the first thing you want when you find yourself in the midst of tribulation or trial? We pray… “Lord get me out of this!” We also want others to give us the answers we want to hear which usually means the promise the season is short or soon ending.
Notice what Paul writes, “and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Paul’s answer isn’t necessarily relief in the moment. It’s not a prayer for them to be out of their circumstances. It was a reminder to look too and for Jesus no matter the circumstance.
What if the answer for us isn’t out of the situation but to be a witness while in the situation. Let’s pray for each other like this during difficult days, “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.