Prayers of Paul 11

2 Thessalonians 1 - continued
11Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember from last week that Paul is writing to encourage the Thessalonian believers in the persecution and hardship they are facing. And his prayer gives us some insight into Paul’s understanding of what they must have been thinking and feeling as they endured great suffering at the hands of unbelievers. First, Paul redirects the Thessalonian believers’ focus from their present suffering to an eternal perspective on their position as citizens of God’s Kingdom.

Next, Paul focuses on God’s character and power. In the midst of their suffering Paul knew that the Thessalonian believers would be tempted to doubt two things. First, they may begin to doubt God’s goodness, and second, they may doubt the effectiveness of their faith. Therefore, Paul emphasizes in his prayer that God is accomplishing something good through them, and that God will use their faith in combination with His power to accomplish it.

We can learn much from this section of Paul’s prayer. Often, Christians who are suffering ask two questions. Probably the most common question is, “How can a God who is good allow this suffering?” Someone once taught me a principle that I’ve never forgotten and that I have applied often. He said, “When you are confused about what God is allowing to happen, and you are tempted to doubt His goodness, go back to what you know to be true about His character.” The Bible tells us that, among other things, God is good, just, faithful, trustworthy, loving and kind. And He will “fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness” in you no matter what your circumstances.

Probably the second most common question asked by suffering Christians is, “What is wrong with my faith that God is not answering my prayers to end this suffering?” Another important principle applies here. Our faith in God does not guarantee that we will not suffer, but it does guarantee that we have available all that we need in order to endure until the suffering comes to an end. I believe that this is the “work of faith with power” to which Paul was referring.

Paul concludes his prayer by disclosing the ultimate purpose behind everything that the Thessalonian Christians are going through, and the ultimate purpose behind the suffering for the Gospel experienced by any Christian— “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him.” Because God is the One who will “fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,” He is the One who will receive the glory. And those who suffer will receive glory from Him, “according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Today, let’s pray for those who are suffering:
That they will trust in God’s goodness.
That they will not waver in their faith.
That God will be glorified in them.