by Pastor Rich Carlson

After they received Paul’s first letter, the people in Thessalonica apparently were confused about the timing of Jesus’ coming. Because of their confusion, Paul wrote again assuring them that Jesus is coming, just not right away. Paul tried to clarify this misunderstanding and pointed out some events which would precede Christ’s coming. He also encouraged them to continue working both for their own support and for the Lord.

Paul prayed for grace and peace to be upon them. What an attitude to develop. When I think about the people God has called into my life, I first wish for them God’s grace and God’s peace. Doing this probably blesses me more than them as I shift my thoughts to the way God wants me to think about others—gracefully and peacefully.

Paul gave thanks in prayer, for two specific things:
1. That their faith would flourish
2. That their love for each other would grow.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians with the thought that their persecutions and hard times would not last forever. He said that their trials were illustrations of how God is working. He assured them that they would find rest and that they would overcome.

After it was all over they would be able to praise God and testify for Him that He is faithful. Paul prayed that God would make them worthy of the life to which He had called them. "Then everyone will give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus because of you, and you will be honored along with Him" (1:12). All this is possible "because of the undeserved favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ" (1:12).

So hang in there my friends. I want my prayers for you to be full of encouragement. I want to help you see what God wants to accomplish in your lives as you focus on Him. Even in the tough times, hang in there with Him because His promise is that we will win and that He will use our faithfulness to show that He is trustworthy. When the world finally gives God honor, He will defer part of it to us and say, "These are the ones that demonstrated that My ways are right and true," and we’ll be honored right along side our God. But we will deflect all that honor right back to Him and say, "Worthy, worthy is the Lamb. All I have to offer is the ‘undeserved favor’ of God."

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.