1 Thessalonians 3:1-4 - Suffering in the will of God

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 3:1-4
1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone,
2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,
3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.
4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
NASU


Thoughts:

Sometimes it is God's will that we endure hardship.  This is an unpleasant and unsettling fact!  However, it ought to change our perspective when we are in a place of suffering.  It is not something strange that is occurring, but something we should expect as Paul expected both for himself and his readers (verses 3 and 4), though the circumstances of our suffering may be very different.

Rather than just seeking escape, we must recognize our adversity as God's will.  A tool in His hand that will make us more like Himself, if we submit to His work, and work towards accomplishing His greater will.

This is by no means easy, but the alternatives are bitterness, despair, and even anger towards God.  These emotions may feel good for a moment, but they are lethal to our souls. 

How much better to submerse ourselves into the loving arms of God, even though we may not understand what He is doing at the moment.  As children do not always understand the process by which their parents mold them into upstanding adults, so we may not comprehend the ways of our Lord.  In both instances however, we recognize the wisdom of trusting the one in authority.


Prayer:

Lord, I don't like going through hardship.  But my desire to be transformed by You, is greater than my dislike of the pain that may involve. 

Continue Your work.  Carry me through the trials I face.  Mold me into the person You want me to be.  Let me be a part of what You are doing in this world.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.