1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
Under God's Control

Therefore, when we couldn't stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. For this cause I also, when I couldn't stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you; for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God; night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

World English Bible

One thought in an article in Newsweek magazine caught my attention this week (click here to read that article online). The premise of the article is that at one time American athletes were considered dominating presences in most world sport competitions, but "on today's sporting fields, America is far more of a patsy than a world beater." The article included the following interesting observation: "Traditionally, many of America's best athletes emerged from its poorest communities. Now hungrier athletes from poorer nations are surpassing them."

My logical mind immediately jumped to the absurd remedy that if we had more desperately poor communities in America, we would improve the pool of talented athletes! What a horribly cruel and ridiculous response to a lack of athletic excellence! We do know that there often are benefits gained from adversity. However, no human should wish economic despondency on others in hopes that a few would succeed—the cost in human failure and suffering is too high.

If I think about my role as a parent, of course I would not wish poverty for my daughter! I do want her to grow stronger, smarter, and more capable, and there are difficulties that I have encouraged her to face to do just that—tough physical exercise to improve her health, challenging classes to improve her mental skills, and hard choices with risks on every hand so she can make even harder choices later with experience and confidence. But in each of these cases, I am afraid for what I cannot control. I cannot keep her from twisting an ankle as she exercises. I cannot change her course grades if her professor grades unfairly. I cannot protect her from every risk she will face any more than I can protect myself from life's threats.

This not true with God. There is no circumstance that we will face that is beyond God's control. Because God power is limitless, we will never face a "worst case" in which we are outside of God's protection. Unlike my daughter's father, our Heavenly Father is in perfect command of creation. I am wrong when I project my frailties and insecurities to my Maker and my Lord.

In this context, when we read Paul's reference to the afflictions he was enduring and the distresses the Thessalonians were facing, the only fear that Paul discussed was the fear that the believers in this new church had little experience on which to draw in their troubles. Paul had no fear for himself, nor even for the ultimate outcome from the difficult times, for God is in control. The only variability is whether the believers would grow stronger in those times, or fall away.

Of course the same is true for us today. Of course the God that used Paul's imprisonment to spread the Gospel into the heart of the Roman Empire still controls every circumstance today. We, like the Thessalonian church, can grow stronger in these circumstances, confident in God's power and grace, or we can turn away. We can try to manage with our weaknesses and our fears, somehow explaining to ourselves that there is an honor or a merit to our futile independent strivings. To rely solely on our power is to pretend that we—and God—are victims of our circumstances, seeking to make the best of a bad situation. How preposterous! Instead, give thanks, and live boldly in the confidence that God is always in control.