So much of life is spent doing things that seem to be beyond our control. Sometimes it is beyond our control and sometimes we say it is beyond our control because we don’t want to make drastic changes or deal with confrontation. Paul experienced this feeling of things being beyond his control.
In I Thessalonians 2:17-19, he expresses in this letter to the church his desire to be with them. In verse 17, he longs to see them face to face but reminds them he unwillingly had to leave them for fear of death. In Acts 17:10, the Thessalonians that were Christians sent Paul and Silas away to Berea in the night to save their lives. As was Paul’s custom he had gone into the Synagogue to preach Christ to the Jews first. However, they did not receive him well and he moved on to those outside the church. Some Jews believed and many Gentiles believed. This angered the Jewish leadership to the point of violence, so Paul had no choice but to leave.
I Thessalonians 2:17 “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.”
Paul tells them he tried to come to them again but was not able to fulfill his wishes. We don’t know exactly what hindered him from going to see them, but the chief reason was Satan using wicked men to do his bidding. This was beyond Paul’s control, and he acknowledged it. His heart’s desire was to come and spend time with them. He could only imagine the work God had done since he had been taken from them. Satan is always the enemy of any Christian and sometimes God hinders what we think would be good because we are not strong enough to withstand Satan’s attack. God is always looking out for our best interest, but it is up to us to stay close enough to him to be led by the Holy Spirit. So many times, we suffer because we take matters into our own hands and push forward when God is saying wait.
I Thessalonians 2:18 “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”
Paul wanted desperately to see them, but he did not want to go against the leading of the Holy Spirit. While he was hindered from going to them, he rejoiced to think of the day when they could all be together forever. He took great hope and joy in their salvation. They were evidence that he was a faithful servant to Jesus. He longed for the day that all of them would be in the presence of Jesus. He mentions to them that Jesus is coming again. This must have been of great encouragement to them also.
I Thessalonians 2:19 “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
While there were things beyond Paul’s control, he never stopped rejoicing in the knowledge of his Savior. He never stopped trying to encourage others, even when he was sitting in prison. His outlook was upward even when things seemed depressing and beyond his control.
So, how can we react the same as Paul when things are beyond our control. We look to the one who has total control. God is always in control; nothing catches Him by surprise. In Ephesians 1:11, we learn that He works everything according to His will. He is not confined by things or people. We are to trust with all of our heart, especially when things seem to be beyond our control, not yielding to our own understanding, but following His will guidance.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
