God Will Use This

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1; Psalm 53

3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. 7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven.  (2 Thessalonians 1:3–7a NLT)

This second letter to the Christians in Thessalonica follows the first letter by just a few months. Remember that Paul had written to encourage them in a time of severe persecution and hardship. The persecution hadn’t eased, but even under pressure their faith was flourishing and they were growing stronger in their love for one another. He tells them he’s even been boasting to the other churches about their endurance and faithfulness under persecutions and hardships.

Friends, these dear people were no different than we are when the pressure is on and times are hard! They wanted to know “Why?” It’s hard not to want to know “Why?” “Why me?” “Why this?” “Why now?” and “Why not them?”

When we’re suffering, it’s hard not to try to fix blame on someone, even if it’s ourselves! It’s hard not to get bogged down in thinking things like, “If only I had done something different!” or “If only I hadn’t done that!” It’s hard not to think God has left us or that maybe we’ve left God without knowing it!

But Paul doesn’t address the “Why?” issue at all! Instead, Paul promises on God’s behalf that God will use our hardships, our trials, and even our persecutions for his good purposes, and even more, to prepare us for his Kingdom. God Will Use This!

Prayer:

Father, Please help my friends and me to leave the “Who’s to blame?” and the “What could I have done to avoid this?” and the “Why me?” questions alone. Please help us to know that you will use this! Help us to be faithful, to grow in our love and compassion for others, and to be more fully ready, and better prepared for your Kingdom! We believe and we declare that “God Will Use This!” In Jesus’ Name!