Stand Fast In The Lord

“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” 

- 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

There is a special kind of comfort, inspiration and thanksgiving to God that come from learning the stories of those who have stood firm in the Lord. Earlier in 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10, Paul encouraged the Thesslonian church because of an encouraging report he received, that the Thessalonians were known all throughout the surrounding areas as ones who have turned from idols to serve the living and true God. They began the journey of the Christian faith, repenting of their sin, and making a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of their life. In this passage, Paul shares another encouraging report he has received about them: in the midst of their trials, the Thessalonians stood firm in the Lord.

Have you ever been inspired by the story of a Christian who persevered through suffering? I am haunted by some of the last words of late Medieval theologian Jan Hus. As he prepared to be burned at the stake for attempting a reform of the church, he uttered these words: “You may kill a weak goose [Hus is Czech for ‘goose’], but more powerful birds, eagles and falcons will come after me.” Hus stood firm in the Lord and was martyred in 1415, but just about one hundred years later in the Protestant Reformation, the world was turned upside down through many men and women, an army of eagles and falcons, who stood fast in the Lord and were comforted in their distress and affliction by remembering his example.

Distressed and afflicted Christian, I only have two encouragements from you from 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10.

1. Be comforted by those who are standing fast

Paul shares that he and his companions are undergoing distress and affliction. In the midst of that suffering, they are comforted by hearing that the Thessalonians are standing fast. It is nearly impossible for us to stand fast in the Lord when we feel like we are walking the narrow road on our own. Hearing the stories of others who have stood fast in the midst of similar suffering can remind us that perseverance is possible and we don’t have to give up. 

When Paul writes, “For now we live,” it’s like he is saying that when he and the brothers learned that the Thessalonians were standing fast in the Lord, it gave them life. Whose stories can be life-giving to you as you walk through your afflictions and distresses? I’d like to suggest three kinds of stories that can help you.

First, stories from church history. Collect stories like the one of Jan Hus, where God’s people over the centuries have stood fast in the Lord, suffering for the sake of His name. The stories of those who have gone before us will remind us that God has been giving His people strength for centuries, and He’s not going to stop now.

Second, stories from people in your community. How have the people you know stood fast in the midst of their distress? How are they standing fast even now? Be comforted by learning the stories of the people around you who have persevered.

Finally, remember the story of the one who stood fast to the point of death, even death on a cross. The Thessalonians did not stand fast in their own strength, or based on their own willpower. They stood fast in Jesus, because Jesus is the one who stood fast to the point of death, even death on a cross. When we look at the story of Jesus, not his death but his resurrection and ascension, we are reminded that no suffering in this life ever gets the last word. Every affliction leads to an even greater resurrection. Even if we suffer to the point of death, we can take comfort in knowing that we will rise with him.

2. Comfort others by standing fast in the Lord

Christian, as you face distress, trials, and temptations to compromise your faith, stand fast in the Lord. God will provide every ounce of strength you need to persevere. It would be enough for us to stand fast in the Lord just for the sake of honoring God and giving Him glory, but when we stand fast in the Lord we also comfort others.

Standing fast in the Lord brings comfort and joy to our brothers and sisters and it brings thanksgiving to God. So resist the temptation to let your distress and affliction drive you to isolation. Don’t suffer in silence. When we try to make it through distress on our own, not only are we missing out on the encouragement that our brothers and sisters in Christ can bring to us in the midst of our pain, we are also preventing them from bringing thanksgiving to God as He gives us perseverance to make it through those trials. In the Lord’s wisdom, He can use even our distress and affliction for his glory, and one way He does that is by letting other people witness the way that He gives us strength to stand fast in Him in the midst of our trials.

So who might your story give life to? Who might your story encourage, bless and build up? Share your report of God’s faithfulness in the midst of your trial, let others be comforted by your testimony, and receive the comfort of hearing the stories of others.