Relief for the Suffering

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” (2 Thessalonians 1:5-7)

There is relief for the suffering. Do you believe that? God wants you to!

Because of sin, our world is filled with all sorts of suffering. There is the suffering of sickness and death. There is the suffering of guilt and shame. There is the suffering of conflict and heartbreak. Those are all real and difficult. God wants you to know that there is relief for your suffering in Jesus.

But Paul in these words is thinking of a different sort of suffering: Suffering for being a Christian. Have you experienced that? Many Christians have. From the insults you hear—in-person or online—to the missed opportunities to the end of relationships to imprisonment or death, many Christians have faced suffering for their faith. The Christians in Thessalonica were suffering persecutions and trials.

But it had an end date. All suffering has an end date. When? “When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven.” What day is that? Judgment Day. The persecution of Christians won’t go on forever. One day we will see and be with Jesus forever in heaven. There is relief for the suffering!

Because God is just. That’s good to remember when others mistreat you. God is just. He sees everything. One day, “he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.” It might seem today like people who do evil get away with it, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. God is just! We don’t need to seek revenge, because Judgment Day will bring condemnation for all unbelievers.

So don’t despair! No matter what suffering you are facing today, God sees and knows it. In fact, he has already planned out the date when it will finally end. Even more, the suffering you face for your faith today is actually proof that you are one of God’s people and will one day live in the kingdom of God.

There is relief for the suffering. There is relief for you.

Dear Lord God, you are perfectly just. When I face suffering for my faith, remind me that you will carry out perfect justice on Judgment Day. Lead me to find relief in Jesus and his promises of salvation. Amen.

Pastor Nathan