Daily Devotionals

Standing Firm in Faith

Welcome back. Today we will read 1 Thessalonians.

They believe this is the earliest of Paul’s letters, which he wrote around AD 50–51, shortly after his ministry in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9). Before arriving there, Paul traveled through Philippi, where Acts records they attacked him, beat him with rods, publicly humiliated him, and imprisoned him. (Acts 16:22–24)

His experience in Thessalonica was very different. There, the people received him warmly. Though they lived in a wealthy, multicultural, polytheistic city and worshipped gods like Zeus, Dionysus, and Aphrodite, many turned away from these idols and embraced Jesus Christ (1 Thess 1:9). (1)

This turning was not without risk. Thessalonica was under Roman rule, and the imperial cult required loyalty to Caesar (Acts 17:7). To follow Christ in such a setting was to swim against the cultural current—yet the Thessalonians did so with conviction.

Hearing that the believers there had remained faithful and had even sent support to him, Silas, and Timothy (Phil 4:16) deeply encouraged Paul. So often after he left an area, young churches struggled or reverted to old habits. But not Thessalonica. Their faith strengthened after his departure.

Faith in Hardship

This same struggle happens today. I think people are drawn to a “soft gospel” because it promises comfort, ease, and earthly blessings if they trust in Christ. But Scripture teaches the opposite:

“We are destined for trials.” (1 Thess 3:3)
“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12)

Paul himself was a living example of this truth. And I have always felt the reality of spiritual resistance—just as Paul did (1 Thess 2:18)—whenever I am about to do something that will lead someone toward Jesus. Satan knows he will lose, but he fights anyway.

Right now, I am experiencing hardship. After twenty-four years of exemplary service, my former employer laid me off. You could call it modern corporate realignment. Companies shifting toward new technologies often replace entire teams with younger workers who have different skill sets.

For many of my coworkers, this simply meant sending out their resumes. But for tech workers like me, I carry two strikes:

I am over sixty-five.
Many companies avoid openly Christian conservatives, and if you check my thirteen social media outlets, all I post is Christian content.

I stopped posting political commentary long ago, but I will not—cannot—refrain from sharing my witness for Jesus. Even if it makes me “unemployable,” I trust God will provide all I need. He always has, and I refuse to believe this moment is any different.

The Power of Persevering Faith

Paul teaches that hardship is normal for those who walk with Christ. He reminds the Thessalonians that their steadfast faith in suffering became a testimony throughout Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thess 1:7–8). Their endurance proved the authenticity of their faith.

It is easy to say, “God is good!” when life is easy. I have shared that testimony myself. But to stand with Paul and say, “God is good—even while I am in chains!” (cf. Acts 16:25; Phil 1:12–14) is far more powerful.

This is the faith that transforms lives.

We can trust that anything that brings glory to God is good, even if it is painful. We may not enjoy the difficulty, but we can find joy within it, because through hardship we see God working in ways we could not have seen otherwise. That brings peace—a peace that defies circumstances (Phil 4:6–7).

I have lived through seasons where everything appeared calm, yet inside I felt turmoil. Something beneath the surface was ready to break, and I could not find peace. In contrast, I will take God’s peace during chaos any day over the world’s fragile tranquility.

Holding Our Priorities

As I read this first letter to the Thessalonians, I must ask myself: What do I find joy in?

Paul wrote to remind them to keep their priorities straight—to resist temptation, to avoid being seduced by the flesh, and to live in holiness (1 Thess 4:3–5). This was a tremendous challenge in their culture…but they stood firm.

Will I?
Will you?

Tomorrow, we will read 2 Thessalonians 1–3.

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