1 Thessalonians 3:7

“for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith”

“For this cause”: The great news found in the previous verse. “We were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith”: “In all our crushing troubles and sufferings here” (Tay). “The combination denotes that the Apostle was carrying on his work under grave difficulties and against much opposition” (Morris p. 107). This reminds us that when Paul was worrying about the Thessalonians, he was also enduring his own set of troubling circumstances. We forget that Paul had many irons in the fire during this time, such concern for Timothy's safety, the work in Corinth, which had its own big problems, the hostile environment that he had encountered in Athens, “And the physical strain due to the double load: on the one hand, carrying on an important and time-consuming gospel-ministry and on the other hand, making good tents!” (Hendriksen p. 88). In view of this, it must be clear that God is not impressed by people who claim they are too busy to serve Him. As if they are busier than the Apostle Paul! Paul often had two full-time jobs, was being physically persecuted, hounded by enemies and false brethren, and yet he still found time to meet with Christians and serve God faithfully. “Through your faith”: “The people of. church are so close to. minister (preacher) that they have power to make his life happy or supremely miserable, 3 John 1:4” (Fields p. 89).