More bad news. More doom and gloom. More roller coaster, spin cycle, ups and downs of life’s events. An overbooked schedule. No tech support or customer assistance when you call to talk to someone. You don’t know what’s coming next around the corner to get you. You hit wall after wall and can’t get any satisfaction. You are at your wit’s end. What can you do?
The Thessalonians were in a bind. There was false teaching and confusion in the church. Paul had told them one thing, but others were saying the opposite. It was a culture of fake news and spin; who to believe? Who to trust? What can we know for sure? Paul wrote to them to set them straight with these words: “Stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter (2 Thessalonians 2:15).” Paul was teaching truth, as he received it from the Lord, as he knew the Scriptures and passed on what was delivered to him. False teachers are a dime a dozen, and we have an overabundance of noise, deception, and distraction today about what is “true.” Paul says, “Stand firm and hold to what I taught you.” There is peace in that. There is comfort in that. That’s a solid rock and foundation to rest upon. There is a clear path in the confusion and frustration you experience today; stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught.
Paul concluded his teaching and said, “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word (2 Thes 2:16–17).” You can have comfort in crazy times, but where does it come from? Drink? Drugs? Gambling? Other people? Your favorite food? No, the Lord Jesus himself comforts you. God your Father loved you and comforts you, through grace. Grace is the most important word in the Bible. It is the key that unlocks every page. Grace is God’s undeserved favor, his unmerited love, His goodness, kindness, and blessings. Grace is you getting His riches that you did not deserve through the death of Christ that He did not deserve. Grace is forgiveness of sins and God’s presence in your life. And this is for your comfort. It is the best, only, and truest comfort you can have. Be comforted today, through Jesus.
Life is hard, and times are tough. It can seem hopeless at times, but it isn’t. Maybe you don’t know where to turn today. Where does your help come from? “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).” You can stand firm on a solid foundation. God gives you comfort and hope. He is the Lord of peace, and He gives you peace at all times in every way. The Lord is with you in the bad news and troubled season.