Your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. (2 Thess. 1:3)
Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
The tornado sirens blared their warning as we took refuge in the basement. Moments later, the wind shrieked and engulfed our house. We waited in the darkness, wondering about the damage. When the storm calmed, we saw a large tree had narrowly missed smashing onto our roof. We could only stare in awe of God’s faithfulness and protection. Everyone around us discovered similar damage and near misses, including our church community. On Sunday morning, we gathered together without power. We shared stories of how God protected us—each story building our faith stronger. We sang with sunlight streaming through stained glass. The pastor preached without a microphone. It was good to worship God together after the storm.
When hard things happen, it can be easy to forget about God’s faithfulness. But Paul didn’t forget. He wrote words of encouragement and gratitude to the church of the Thessalonians. In fact, he celebrated that in spite of trials and persecutions, the church’s faith was growing stronger! Their love for one another was growing deeper. Paul commended the church for their endurance in the face of hardship.
Paul couldn’t tell the believers when their suffering would end. He could only spur them on to continue growing in their faith and love for one another. When we gather with other believers and share stories of God’s faithfulness, our faith and love grow stronger.
Tell a story of when God provided in a hard situation.
Kristina Carter uses her passion for writing on the Global Partners Communication Team to equip people in the mission to share the gospel with the unreached.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
