Pain often makes us give up and give it the last word and authority in our life. That was Paul’s fear in 1 Thessalonians 3 as the Roman Empire and the Jewish leaders turned up the pain and suffering for the new believers in Thessalonica. Paul was eventually forced to leave the city and flee to Athens. He would have gladly gone back and suffered the consequences on behalf of the little church, but the unrest was actually centered around Paul himself so going back would not be the right thing to do. It seemed as if the Thessalonians’ church would have to go through their pain alone, which is the worst way to go through pain. How would they be able to endure amidst all the persecution and suffering inflicted against them? Join us this morning in 1 Thessalonians 3 as we examine their resolve in tribulation.
