Confusion Requires…

Man, most of today’s reading (2 Thessalonians 2) is pretty confusing, and I think it was written to the Thessalonians because they were confused, and I know that I find a whole lot of my life confusing. I don’t understand why I have to go through things I do, why I have to struggle the way I do, why God doesn’t work in ways that seem obviously right and best to me.

And I think that’s why I love how this chapter closes: 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.

God doesn’t just give us eternal salvation, He gives us eternal encouragement. And He doesn’t just provide a good destination, He provides good hope. And, yes, ultimately what we need is salvation and to end up in the right place, but when life hurts and spins out of control and is unbelievably confusing, what we need – here and now – is encouragement and hope. And God is so good, and loves us so much, He gives us just what we need.