Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain (2 Thessalonians 3:16) - Your Daily Bible Verse - September 9
BIBLE VERSE OF THE DAY: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you” (NIV) - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Finding Peace in the Midst of Pain
By John D. Barry, CEO of Jesus' Economy
There are moments in life that seem to lack all peace. Instead, they are only full of pain. How can we find peace in times such as these? Paul the apostle, who was deeply familiar with pain, had some thoughts on that.
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18. Reflect on 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
The church at Thessalonica had endured incredible pain, as had Paul. From those who didn’t believe in Jesus, they had experienced persecution (2 Thessalonians 1:4; 3:1–2). Thus, Paul does not tritely offer these words about peace.
For Paul, peace was a real and enduring reality in his life, despite the pain. If only such was the case for all of us.Paul achieved this sense of peace from a deep understanding that Jesus would work through all things—no matter how dire they seemed (compare Philippians 4:13; Romans 8:28). Paul believed in a resurrected Lord who could bring resurrected life to even the most painful moments of death and despair.
I remember an intense moment of despair in my life, when I felt like I could no longer see the beauty of the moon or the stars. When I looked up and out, I felt nothing but pain. I questioned everything and was left paralyzed by indecision—despairing. I found my way out by praying through my pain. And when I couldn’t find words to pray, I prayed through the Psalms and the Book of Common Prayer.
And this was Paul’s solution. He went to prayer:
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6 NRSV).
“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18 NRSV).
It wasn’t that Paul didn’t feel pain or experience movements of anxiety or despair. It’s what Paul did with those moments. He prayed. He prayed. He prayed.
What is God asking you to bring to him in prayer today? How can peace in Jesus be your answer to even the most painful of moments? Drop me a comment, I would love to hear from you.
John D. Barry is the CEO of Jesus’ Economy, an innovative non-profit creating jobs and churches in the developing world. At JesusEconomy.org, people can shop fair trade and give directly to a cause they’re passionate about, such as bringing the gospel to unreached people groups. John is also the general editor of Faithlife Study Bible and the author or editor of 30 books.
Related Resource: Praying Through Psalms 60: Victory in Hopeless Ground
What do you do when the battlefield stretches in every direction, and it looks like God Himself brought the defeat?
Join Jaime on the Praying Christian Women Podcast for a devotional on Psalm 60 — a raw, honest lament born out of being surrounded on all sides, where David dares to say You did this, God — and still picks up the banner and calls Him Lord.
Jaime unpacks the historical backdrop of David fighting enemies to the north, east, and south all at once, and shares a breathtaking story from her years near Death Valley — where barren, salt-crusted flats that look permanently dead suddenly erupted into a once-in-a-century bloom of purple wildflowers. Sometimes the victory is already buried right beneath the most hopeless-looking ground, waiting for God's rain to bring it to life. If this episode helps you navigate life with prayer and intention, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
