And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)
Persecution is not for nothing.
Paul had endured it himself.
So it is not hollow encouragement
To those in Thessalonica.
They had endured so far. (v. 4)
Never discount what you have gone through
In service to God.
Be assured God will repay. (v. 6)
He sees, He knows and He is keeping records.
In justice, God will set everything right.
God will provide rest to those persecuted. (v. 7)
It is that final rest in eternity.
In His presence, in His kingdom.
But for now
God will redeem the persecution,
Making us more like Christ
Don’t minimize.
Don’t despair.
Contextualize.