by Pastor Rich Carlson

I know that troubles and temptations will come when I decide to commit my life to Jesus and follow Him. But, you know what? They come if I haven’t decided to commit my life to Jesus too! Sometimes they come because the devil is specifically at work against me. Sometimes they come because they are part of the same world as I. It’s inevitable.

I used to live in dread, fear, or denial of that fact. But Satan is a reality—he’s alive, active, and always up to the challenge of creating chaos for all, or specific resistance to any movement toward God. James says that I should “count it all joy” when I “meet various trials.” According to him, testing of faith produces steadfastness. A faithful, consistent life is what I long for. And, it appears over and over again in Scripture as attainable, even though I go through tough times.

That’s not a very popular concept. But I have found that it is a crucial paradigm shift if I am to grow in my relationship with Jesus. I don’t have to look for trouble, or create trouble, but I do have to expect trouble and develop a strategy for handling it if I want to grow in joy. But this chapter of Paul’s letter is not about what to do when I face challenges in my Christian walk. It’s about what to do for others when they are facing challenges.

Paul was writing to the Thessalonians who were being tempted and tried for their Christian faith. And that is where I gained my insight for today: Paul was worried about the Thessalonians—I too want my response to others in trouble, not to be judgmental but caring. He wanted to be with them—I want to be encouragingly intentional and proactive toward those being challenged by Satan. He sent Timothy to see how they were doing—I want to do whatever I can to be supportive, in flesh and blood. He got a good report brought back by his young associate Timothy and he rejoiced—I want to rejoice, not be skeptical if things look like they are going well for someone. He prayed earnestly “night and day” for them—I want to lift up struggling persons in prayer rather than ignore or shun them. He prayed very specifically—he understood what they needed and knew God could provide: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy.”

It appears from this part of Paul’s letter that there are three results that come about when the tempted person stands faithful and their friends respond appropriately:
1. Their love for each other and for everyone else increases
2. They are strengthened in their hearts
3. They grow in the direction of living blameless and holy lives.

That sounds like a wonderful benefit for faithfulness through trials and faithfulness toward others who face trials. It sounds exactly like what I want my Christian life to be like: standing firm, through the power of God, when I am being tried. Standing faithfully behind others when they face trials. This is my prayer for myself and for each of you. 

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.