Farewell But Not For Long! – PART 2

Farewell But Not For Long! (II Thessalonians 3:16-18) – PART 2

II Thessalonians 3:16-18, “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

The former principal of Princeton Theological Seminary, Charles Hodge, once interned at Princeton when he was still young. He tells the following story from his interning days: "It was my privilege to be the pupil-assistant of Professor Joseph Henry, the illustrious scientist. When, for the first time, electric signals were sent from point to point, the earth itself being used for the return current, Professor Henry put me at one end of the circuit, while he stood directing the experiments at the other. I can well remember the wonderful care with which he arranged them. Very often, when the testing moment came, he would raise his hand in adoring reverence and call upon me to uncover my head and worship in silence. He would say, 'Because God is here, I am about to ask Him a question.'" Hodge learned a valuable principle early in life-no matter where we are, God is with us. If you've ever faced an overwhelming circumstance, you can relate to the fact that though others may comfort you, sometimes your loneliness and desperation can control you. It is during those times when God desires for you to recognize His presence and rest in Him.

God’s Presence (II Thessalonians 3:16b)
Paul writes, “The Lord be with you all” (II Thessalonians 3:16b). God is omnipresent. How comforting to know that, wherever we are, God is there! We cannot hide from Him, nor can anything else hide us from Him. We are never alone, because He is always with us to guide and protect us. What gives us comfort is knowing that when we pray to the Lord, He is always near. I can’t think of anything that is more comforting than these words, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”. This promise of His presence is found in the following verses: Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5. The God of the universe, Who created and controls everything, is with us in our suffering, and He will never leave.

Paul knows God is omnipresent, but his prayer is for the Thessalonians to experience God’s empowerment and comfort during their very difficult time. We are reminded of this promise according to Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”. Our most difficult struggles are no problem for God to handle. When troubles come, God’s presence is enough to get you through. No problem, whether emotional, physical, or spiritual, is too big for our God. If we will learn to take refuge in Him and lean on Him alone for strength, then with the psalmist we can face the most extreme crises with quiet confidence, because God is with us and He is sufficient. But we would be in error if we thought that God insulates us from problems.

When you are discouraged, His presence will carry you through. When you are in darkness, it is not darkness to God. When things don’t make sense and you can’t understand anything, just recognize that God is present. While you can’t see through that darkness, God will become a bright, living reality to you, carrying you through. When you are lonely, His presence will cheer you up. People are lonely everywhere, but you can be alone and not lonely because the Lord’s presence is always with you. He has time for you like there was no one else except you. When you are worried, His presence will calm you down. He is with you. His enemies are your enemies, and your enemies are His enemies. You don’t have to worry if God is with you in trouble. Thank God that His presence calms you.

Take time several times a day and get alone with God in a quiet place. The Bible says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God”. Read and meditate on this psalm over and over again. Have a quiet time with God and know that He is with you there. The psalmist is talking to God, not about God. He’s having a conversation. Talk to God about everything and fellowship with Him just as you would a friend. Share with Him your fears and your joys. The Bible says in Psalm 22:3, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel”. When you praise Him, God reveals Himself to you. He’s always present, but He manifests Himself when you praise. If you’re having difficulty praying, begin to praise. Just praise the Lord!

Prayer, Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared to You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and banish fears from my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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