From what should we derive encouragement? Paul and Timothy knew that, because of the gospel and its divisive nature, the Thessolonians would suffer greatly. They knew this from a mental ascent, but also from lived experience. Paul knew what kind of word he would be introducing the young church into and was deeply concerned for its safety. Withstanding that type of persecution would be difficult. For most, this would mean prayer for alleviating the difficulty. But in this passage we see that Paul’s heart rests in the idea of the young church being able to stand with him in following through with his faith, especially through persecution. Knowing that they were thriving in the chaos was his supreme hope. It was more important to him than the comfort or the prosperity of Thessolonica. Knowing that they were standing strong in the face of this suffering gave Paul the added benefit of encouragement in his own struggles. As we see our loved ones suffering for God, we too have a choice as to how we should pray for them. Do we pray for their troubles to go away? Or do we pray that God’s will be done and that they would remain strong in the midst of it? Though not mutually exclusive, the latter is too rarely considered an option.