Who encourages you?

I Thessalonians 3:7-8 (NLT)

So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.  It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

You are dealing with a myriad of problems in your life.  Family problems, work problems, money problems, health issues, conflicts with others, whatever, you have lots of problems going on.  How do you cope?  I have never understood how a non-believer can make it through life’s great difficulties without the Lord’s involvement.  A believer has the Bible and prayer to help you deal with your stress points, worries, and depression.  Yet, there’s something more.

The apostle Paul admits that he and his colleagues are in the midst of “troubles and suffering”.  You can read in Acts 17:1-15 that a riot broke out while Paul and Silas were in Thessalonica and they barely escaped with their lives.  They went to a nearly city, Berea, but their opponents from Thessalonica followed them there and stirred up the crowds such that they had to flee again, this time to Athens.  It was from Athens that Paul wrote this letter to Thessalonian believers.

What gave Paul great encouragement, even under life-threatening circumstances, was the reminders in his mind of the strong faith of his believing brothers and sisters in Thessalonica.  Others’ faith made the difference in his life.  Have others’ faith made a difference in your life?  When you are experiencing great troubles over the problems you are facing, does not the strong faith of someone else encourage you?  Does not the thinking of someone you know who has demonstrated strong faith give you hope and encouragement?  Better yet, doesn’t the personal interactions you might have with someone whom you admire because of his/her faith significantly help you deal with your problems with a little more optimism?

Read II Corinthians 1:3-11.  Note that not only God comforts you through His Word and prayer during times of affliction, but also, just as importantly, comfort comes through other people who have gone through what you are going through.  We see the strong faith in others, faith that was developed and strengthened in their lives because of the suffering they had gone through.  Now they are able to help you because of their faith and wisdom. 

Who in your life encourages you because of his/her strong faith?  Who do you know who has faced similar problems in life as you are facing who you can turn to for encouragement and guidance?  Furthermore, who might you be able to help, either now or someday, because you have remained strong in the faith?