"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2nd Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Paul had just reminded this young church, and us, that the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are actually called to suffer for His sake. This does not mean that we purposefully seek out danger and pain. It simply means that the will of God comes before ours, and sometimes that means we are called to take a stand and suffer for these principles.

Paul's prayer for the believer is quite similar to Jesus' prayer. He does not pray that God take them out of the world but that they be delivered from worldly influence, that they may live according to their calling.

By seeing themselves as God sees them, they can take courage to continue in the face of deep persecution. They are "risen with Christ," and as such, they will be glorified with Him when He returns. Paul prays that they take this knowledge and hold to their faith so that Christ receives glory in their walk while still here in this life.

We are called with this same calling. Therefore, it would behoove us to become more acquainted with the facts of the return of Jesus Christ. When these facts are solid in our minds, we can have hope in the Lord regardless of what we face in our daily lives.