Surrounded by fellow believers

Surrounded by fellow believers

And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 NLT

People who go through suffering has a tendency to think that they are the only ones who are facing trials. There is a temptation to be self-centered when one thinks that God is unfair in sending difficulties to one’s life. Yet, each one goes through difficulties like the rest of the people of the world and there are those that face much greater difficulties in life. “No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message). Paul encouraged believers in Thessalonica not to give up and to remain strong in their faith as they face difficulties in life. They were facing persecutions because of their faith in Christ. Paul encouraged them to persevere because what they are dealing with in life is not something new or different. There are others that have suffered before them, yet they endured. Satan will find ways to tempt believers into thinking that what he or she is facing is isolated. Christians should not be obliterated by suffering, instead it should make them strong in their faith. When Elijah felt the heaviness of the difficulty he was facing being threatened by Jezebel, he fled in the wilderness. He isolated himself from the rest of the devoted Israelites and all the more he became discouraged and was ready to quit. “‘Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died’” (1 Kings 19:3-4). The more a believer isolates himself or herself because of suffering all the more he or she becomes vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. Paul commended the believers at Thessalonica for they were willing to face their difficulties as one body of believers. God does not want us to face the battle alone and He brought us into a fellowship of believers so we can encourage one another.

Blessings,