1Th 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
We are indeed appointed to afflictions. Just like Paul, just like the Thessalonians and all the saints down through the last 2000 years. All of us who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will walk the narrow path that the saints walked before us. When Paul realized what was happening to the Thessalonians, that they were suffering for Jesus, he could not endure it any longer and sent Timothy to see how they were doing. God will always send you something or someone in the midst of your trials and tribulations. You will not be left as orphans. The Holy Spirit will see to that. You will be encouraged. You will be strengthened and lifted up. Even reading this may be an encouragement to you. The Lord cares for all of His sons and daughters, we are the sons and daughters of His love. Sometimes we can lose sight of that at the height or in the depths of the battle, especially when it rages all around. Yet even in the terrible fiery furnace that the Hebrew children endured, Jesus was with them in the midst of it all. He is in the midst of it with you.
What thanks Paul gave to God when he heard how the Thessalonians stood. He thanked the Lord that He was establishing their hearts to be “blameless in holiness.” He thanked God that despite their persecutions they abounded in love. Glory to God. Holiness, thankfulness, abiding in love and to be found blameless in the sight of God just like Job. There are riches to be found in the depths of tribulations saints. Treasures that are found in the darkness of our situations. The light that never shines brighter, the love that never feels stronger, the glory that is never so surely seen, as when we suffer for the sake of Jesus. The comfort we receive from the hand of God, broken like the loaves and the fishes, many shall be fed by it. Glory to God. Standing fast in the Lord and in the power of His might, whether in the heat of the day or the blackness of the night, there shall never be a more glorious sight, than His glory that fills the temple and that fills you and I.
A Call To The Remnant 