Grace In Suffering

July 18th, 2025

2 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

This passage has a fascinating pattern that offers us strength, comfort, and encouragement. It begins and ends with the grace of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 2, 12), which grows and empowers our faith (vv. 3, 11). It is within the context of these themes of grace and faith that we can understand this opening message to the church in Thessalonica.

Paul was writing to encourage these believers as they were suffering and being persecuted. The theme of suffering is prevalent here. It is first evidenced in verse 4, and continues in verse 5, before offering the hope of relief from suffering in verse 7. We know from Romans 8:17ff. that Paul considered suffering to be part of life in the Spirit. Sometimes, that suffering is the result of persecution, such as that mentioned in today’s passage. However, this is not always the case.

Whatever the cause of suffering, we can choose to let it draw us more deeply into life in the Spirit. God’s grace offers us steadfastness and endurance (v. 4) as we let the Spirit of the Lord Jesus work in us.

Author: Deanna Hayden