2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17

 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17

 

This is a prayer to God through Jesus Christ, who is recognized as the one who offers us consolation through Him. It is to recognize that Christ is in God, though separate from God, and it is a prayer to call upon the blessings offered by both. For it is the love of the Father which is shown in the redemption we have through Jesus Christ. God loved the world so much that He gave His Son to die for us on the cross. We boast in the cross, for it is our saving grace, it is our eternal life offered through the nails, the stripes, the death and ultimately, the resurrection of the Son of God. There are many superficial consolations in this world that we may call upon. We may get our high in an event, or a happening, but it may be short-lived and when it comes to an end, we are left grieved once more. If the root of the issue is not resolved, then there is no lasting relief. The true relief comes from an everlasting source – Jesus Christ. Even in our darkest moments, Christ is there, interceding for us, heeding our call. He went ahead of us in all temptations, in all the human emotions we may encounter, and therefore He knows our heart. It is in Him then we are encouraged, strengthened, and made firm. We then, must fight the good fight of faith, keeping our convictions strong in the Lord, resisting the devil, keeping hope alive in the midst of tribulation. Some people go through great trials, enough to exhaust them to death, with everything gone and lost – but Jesus! He has been with them, been their strength and hope! And He can and will be yours too!  

Pastor Julia

image: Ben White

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