Today’s post follows a similar theme to yesterday, but using a different passage from the bible. I want to look at a small passage written by Paul to Timothy, a young leader of the early church that Paul had mentored and who, based on the contents of the letters, needed encouragement in his ministry.
The few verses I want to look at come from the second letter:
At my first defence, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it no be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen
2 Timothy 4: 16-18
Paul was a Roman citizen and went around promoting Christianity, a religion with one God who wasn’t the Roman Emperor which got him into trouble with the Romans. And some of the Jews didn’t like what he was saying either – they didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God. So Paul was imprisoned and threatened a number of times on his journeys, eventually being shipped back to Rome and being put under house arrest. I believe it is from here that Paul writes to Timothy to give encouragement.
Paul makes a point of showing how no one came to his defence, how they fled or stayed silent (which is similar to the disciples when Jesus was led away…) But then he says that God stood by him so that he could give his message. Paul isn’t asking for pity or sympathy, he’s not writing about his hardships for the sake of eliciting some response from Timothy, wither guilt at not helping or a determination to act for Paul’s defence. No, he is writing so his story, or rather God’s story can give encouragement. He uses his evidence of God’s presence and power to give strength to others who read about his story, primarily Timothy but now also us as we read it.
There is something comforting about someone who has been through the mill, who has endured so much – more than we probably know – and yet in the midst of it still firmly points to God’s goodness and blessing. And what’s more, he doesn’t say that God will fix it for him but rather that God will bring him safely to his heavenly kingdom. Paul has his eyes fixed firmly on God and his promise of eternal life. He holds firmly onto the belief and the hope that something better awaits.
So for us, moving forwards, when there are times we feel vulnerable and alone, we don’t have to search too hard to find God. We can trust that he is right there with us. And we can use our stories to encourage others and use others stories to encourage us.
God has been by my side every step of the way, even (especially?) when I didn’t realise it. He has given me strength and sustained me when I’ve felt broken and lost, and he is still with me now as continue to grow and explore. I hope my story, my belief can be some encouragement to you reading this. Because God is by your side too.
The Reason for my Hope Blog 