Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Have you ever heard the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same”? It’s one of those phrases that echoes across generations — and it couldn’t be more true when it comes to the life of faith. The struggles the Thessalonians faced in Paul’s day are strikingly similar to what many of us feel right now. They looked around and saw evil running rampant, corruption being rewarded, and those striving to live with integrity barely scraping by. Sound familiar?

The Thessalonian believers were weary. Rumors were spreading that they had missed the return of Christ — that the hope they had been clinging to had already passed them by. Imagine how that would feel: already fighting to stay faithful, only to think the moment you’d been waiting for, the promise you’d built your life on, had already come and gone. It would be easy to give up. But Paul steps in with a powerful reminder — God’s timing is not man’s timing, and His delays are not denials.

God’s Delay Is a Sign of His Love

When it feels like evil is winning, remember this: God’s slowness in dealing with wickedness is not weakness or permissiveness — it’s patience. Peter reminds us, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8–9).

Every moment God delays His return is another moment of mercy. Just as He patiently waited for you and me to surrender our hearts, He’s still waiting for others. Maybe there’s someone in your family — a child, a spouse, a friend — who hasn’t yet made that choice. You might feel anxious in the waiting, but for them, this delay could be grace.

Don’t Be Shaken or Troubled

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 2 was simple yet powerful: “Do not be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed.” He warned them not to let their faith be rattled by false reports or rumors, whether they came through “spirit,” “word,” or “letter.” Those same warnings ring true for us today.

When Paul mentioned “spirit,” he was referring to false prophecy — people claiming divine revelation that wasn’t from God. Sound familiar? Everywhere you look today, someone is claiming to have a “word from the Lord.” But Scripture gives us the test: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). God will never contradict His own Word. If it doesn’t align with Scripture, it isn’t from Him.

When Paul spoke of “word,” he was talking about false teaching — messages that tickle the ears but starve the soul. We see that today in pulpits, podcasts, and platforms where truth is often diluted for likes and shares. Too many “influencers” are chasing clicks instead of Christ. They focus on trends instead of truth, popularity instead of purity.

And then there’s “letter” — the written word. In our day, that could mean news articles, best-selling books, or social media posts. The question remains the same: Does it line up with God’s Word? If it doesn’t, don’t let it trouble your spirit.

The World Is Not Our Home

It’s easy to get anxious when we scroll through the news or see the chaos unfolding in our world — wars, deception, moral decay, and increasing hostility toward faith. But let’s be reminded: this world is not our home. It is not our God. It is not our hope. Our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is coming again — not as a suffering servant this time, but as the victorious King of Kings.

Paul reminds believers that lawlessness will increase, and there will be a great falling away. Many will reject truth, exchanging it for comfort or compromise. But as the darkness grows, the light of Christ in His people will shine even brighter.

Draw Your Battle Line

So, what does that mean for us today? It means it’s time to draw your battle line. Take your stand. Don’t back down because of what’s happening around you. Don’t let fear of rejection or persecution silence your faith. Don’t be swayed by the deception that calls evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

Paul’s message wasn’t just to warn — it was to strengthen. He wanted the Thessalonians, and us, to know that victory is already secured in Christ. The enemy may appear powerful, but his time is short. The man of lawlessness will be revealed, but Paul assures us that “the Lord Jesus will overthrow him with the breath of His mouth and destroy him by the splendor of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

So, while the world may look darker, take heart. Every moment brings us one step closer to His return. Every trial tests and strengthens our faith. Every delay is another act of divine mercy for someone who still needs saving.

Now is not the time to shrink back — it’s the time to stand firm. To live boldly. To proclaim truth when lies are popular. To love deeply when hate runs rampant. To walk in holiness when compromise is convenient.

The Thessalonians were called to persevere, and so are we. Let’s hold the line, keep our eyes fixed on Christ, and remember that our faith is not built on what we see, but on who we know. The same God who was faithful to the Thessalonians is faithful to us today.

So stand firm. Speak truth. Live set apart. The Lord is coming soon.

Live bold. Live set apart. Live for Christ. ✝️

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