1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5

Sorry for the audio levels, mic was a little hot.

October 18, 2020

Title: Don’t Be Robbed of Joy

How do you react when things don’t go your way? When plans go awry and people don’t do what you think they should, how does that affect your attitude? If you were to describe your mood in those moments, would joy be on the list? It’s hard for us to hold onto joy when things are hard, and that is certainly understandable. But often it is hard for us to keep our joy even when things are mildly inconvenient.

I. When Plans Are Frustrated

¹⁷ But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.

At the start of our passage, we can see that Paul understood disappointment, he knew the frustration we feel when things don’t go according to plan, but he also knew the true value of joy and hope. And as we continue our series through 1 Thessalonians, Paul is warning us not to let the trials of life rob us of the things that matter most. We need to guard those most precious treasures God has given to us, and hold onto them. We can’t let Satan use, sometimes even trivial things, to rob us of the most important things. For if we are willing to give those things up over little things, how will we ever expect to hold on during the severe storms of life? As we are told in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

This year in particular, we can certainly relate to frustrated plans. How many things, good things, did we plan to do this year, and it just didn’t happen? For me, it is the expectation that I can visit people in the nursing homes and hospitals, but most of the time this year, that hasn’t been possible. And it is frustrating, as I’m sure many of you can relate to. And we may feel like Satan is blocking our way to do that good work – certainly he takes great delight in isolation and loneliness. And we can be disappointed – and certainly Paul was disappointed and frustrated – when things didn’t go according to plan. It is difficult when we are unable to do the things we want to do, and even the things we think we should do. It is difficult to realize that we are not always in control of our own lives.

But when Paul encountered this disappointment, he didn’t give up. First, He continued to pray for them. In verse 17, he says that they were “separated in person, but not in thought.”

Second, he continued to make every effort to see them. He didn’t just try once, but on multiple occasion he tried to go and see them.

Finally, when those efforts failed, Paul was content to make a different plan. He put on hold his efforts to go himself, and was willing to send Timothy to check in on the church and bring them encouragement:

¹ So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. ² We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.

In all this, Paul reminds us that our hope, joy and glory are in Christ Jesus. Our hope, joy, and glory are not in our plans, and we always need to keep our eye on the goal. For we realize that God is not bound to our plans. He can accomplish His goals in a variety of ways, so we need to be willing, as it says in Psalm 27:14, to “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”  When things don’t go our way, it is easy to get angry and give up, but we need to persevere, and to not let upset plans rob us of our joy.

II. When Persecution and Trouble Come

² We sent Timothy… ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

While frustrated plans show us the limit of the control we have over our own lives, persecution and other kinds of trouble remind us how much less control we have over the lives and decisions of others. And that can be disappointing and disheartening as well.

Paul sent Timothy to reassure them during this time of persecution. No one knew what was going to happen and that lack on control can be frightening. We can drown in anxiety if become fixated on the fact that we don’t know what is going to happen next. And Paul was worried that the church would be destroyed by fear.

This, too, we can relate to. We are not sure what will happen in the next few weeks, months, or even years. Who knows the long-term impact of what we are going through? But as believers, we know there is someone who knows exactly what will take place – and that is God. And we need to trust Him to take care of the future that for us is clouded and uncertain. I don’t trust the future will go my way, but I trust God will always be there for me, and He will always be for me. And that is what Paul was talking about when he said he didn’t want anyone to be unsettled by these trials. We know trials are coming, but we also know that God will bring us safely through.

But when we live in fear and uncertainty, it robs us of our joy. When we are worried about tomorrow, we will certainly not be able to enjoy today. If we give in to the fear of tomorrow, we have allowed Satan to rob us of our joy today. As Jesus said during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:34, “³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” And how does He tell us to do that? In the preceding verse He teaches us, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Yes, we do need to be looking to the future, but we need to keep our attention fixed on our hope, joy, and crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes. Our hope is based on that fixed and certain future. A certain future filled with God’s joy.

Paul tells the Thessalonians church that the hope, joy and crown that he is looking forward to seeing is them. “Is it not you? ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” Paul was able to live in joy, even amid disappointment because he was focused on others.

So often our anger is based on selfishness. Even when we want to do things for others, we want to do it our way. But Paul knew God’s ways are better than our ways. Paul knew when the time was right, that God would open the right doors. And as long as the church was holding onto the faith, Paul was content – even if things didn’t happen the way he wanted them too.

III. Hold On Tightly

For Paul was relieved and delighted to hear that they were holding on to the joy of the Lord. For in verse 5 Paul admits, “For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.”

Paul was worried about them. He was worried that they might have given up under the pressure of the world. He was worried their work might have all been for naught. How frustrating that is, to put in time and effort and have it all seem to go to waste.

In college, I went on a short-term mission trip to Honduras. Part of our job there was to help repair, clean, and paint some bathrooms in an apartment building. This was a three-story building that was situated under a bridge. So we spent a few days, cleaning, chasing away spiders, and painting. However, less than a year later, that area was hit by a devastating hurricane. The bridge, including that entire apartment building, was entirely under water. And, at first, I thought everything we need was for nothing. But then I was reminded, what was our glory and joy? It was not the bathrooms, but the people we served in our work on those bathrooms. And although the physical work might not have remained, who knows if God’s work in the hearts of the people endured? Certainly, if nothing else, the work God did in our hearts remained. For a news story that would’ve passed by unnoticed instead drove us to pray for the people there. And prayer makes a bigger difference than some new plumbing and paint. We prayed for the people that would minister to them in this crisis as well.

Paul, too, when things didn’t go as planned, had to rely on others – he had to rely on Timothy, even though he wanted to go himself; but ultimately, he had to rely on God. For those frustrated plans, drove him to pray and trust that God’s Word and the Power of the Holy Spirit would sustain the believers. When we get to do things our way, it is easy for us to take the credit. We need to be reminded the work is God’s.

In Philippians 4:4 and following, Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus….¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

In order to hold onto joy, we need to let go of our fear. In order to let go of fear, we need to let go of our selfish control over our lives and our attempts to control the lives of others. We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and be willing to give Him thanks and praise at all times – in good times, and difficult times alike. We need to trust the power of His Word and the Power of His Holy Spirit to sustain us in His way and in His time. And that is hard to do. But it is the essence of faith – trusting the Lord and His plans more than we trust our own.

As Scripture teaches us in Proverbs 3:5-8, “⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”   Amen.