Better Than You Think

Better Than You Think

2 Thessalonians 2: ³ Our friends, we must thank God at all times for you. It is right for us to do so, because your faith is growing so much and the love each of you has for the others is becoming greater. ⁴ That is why we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God. We boast about the way you continue to endure and believe through all the persecutions and sufferings you are experiencing.

 

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After a while, the trials I was going through could no longer be hidden. I would pretend everything was fine, but it really was not fine. When I told people what I was going through, they said “I was going through that same thing! I’m sorry you are going through this, but it’s good to know it’s not just me.”

 

• I just wanted the problem to be cleared up before I told people.
• I just wanted the trial to be over without people knowing.
• I did not want to be an example.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy expresses their gratitude to the everyone who belonged to GOD our FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. They knew this group of people would be persecuted and suffer many painful experiences. While no one likes trials, they spoke highly of this group because of how they kept their belief through the trials.

 

My Observations

• GOD does not make me suffer, but knows I will go through trials.
• GOD wants me to hold onto hope and belief in the middle of my persecution and suffering.
• GOD wants me to know that other people need to hear what I am going through so he or she can understand they are not alone.

 

Suffering stinks! Who wants to go through persecution? No one. BUT GOD seems to allow us to go through things, not around them. When I go through something, I find it amazing that many others are going through something similar.  The enemy, Satan, wants me to isolate, blame or fall into a hole of despair. BUT GOD has a different plan.

 

HE wants me to just simply be. I do  not have to be anything special or do anything courageous. HE wants me to know I am not alone and tell others about my trial. To some, it will fall on deaf ears, but to the right person, GOD will use the message to heal me and him or her. I just want you to know that you are doing better than you think.

 

Challenge

• Why are the writers thankful for a group of people who are enduring persecution?
• Have you ever suffered persecution and do not see it ending any time soon?
• Will you endure against Satan’s lies and know that you are doing better than you think because of your faith in JESUS, our LORD and Savior?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please bless this reader with YOUR protection during this trial. Open his or her heart to YOU so HE or she can hold fast to YOUR faith. Thank YOU for endurance, belief and hope. amen