“So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3
You have probably heard people talking about the importance of getting a flu vaccination each year. Did you know that when people get the flu shot the virus that actually causes the illness is injected into the body? What happens is the virus, in small doses, prepares the immune system to fight off the bug if it enters your body later in the flu season.
So what’s the point?
Timothy was like the first ever vaccination. Instead of protecting people from the flu, Paul said he was sending Timothy to Thessalonica keep them from being shaken by their troubles. Imagine that, a person sent to protect others from the stresses of life.
Has God sent people your way to help you deal with your stress? Thank Him for those awesome people.
Is God calling you to encourage or be a friend to someone? Then He may be calling you to be a human stress vaccine. Pretty cool to think about, right?