Hope In The Face of Intimidation

 What do you do when the enemy tries to intimidate you with fear,   opposition, uncertainty, suffering, or even difficult relationships? In 2   Thessalonians 3, Paul reminds us that Christians can have a hope that   refuses to be intimidated because our hope is rooted in the faithfulness of   God. Satan may roar, circumstances may frighten us, and life may not give   us the answers we want—but the Lord is faithful, and He will establish and   guard His people.   

As Paul brings his second letter to the Thessalonians to a close, he teaches   us how to carry on faithfully while we wait for Christ's return. We learn to   wait faithfully, work faithfully, and love faithfully—even when loving our   church family requires us to practice biblical “tough love.” The enemy   doesn't only try to intimidate us from outside the church; sometimes   difficult relationships within God's family can tempt us to withdraw, avoid   confrontation, or stop doing what is right. But God's family helps us walk   faithfully.   

And Paul leaves us with something far better than a date for Christ's return   or an explanation for everything we will face. He leaves us with a Person.   The Lord of peace gives us peace in the midst of uncertainty, and the grace   of Jesus Christ gives us exactly what we need to carry on. Our hope isn't   wishful thinking—it is confidence in Christ. So when the enemy roars, we   don't have to live intimidated lives. We can pray, stand firm, keep doing   what is right, love faithfully, and trust the faithfulness of God.