"May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

With these words in his conclusion of the first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul urges fellow Christians, most of whom were facing intense persecution and the very real possibility of being martyred, to trust in the Lord who is faithful and continues the work of sanctification in every area of our lives. When we face horrible circumstances that challenge our faith beyond what we can bear in our own strength, it's easy to begin to think that God has abandoned us. That's exactly what the devil wants us to believe. But it's important to remember that our circumstances are part of the small picture, and God's purposes are always worked out in the big picture. That's why those believers could trust that even if they met their earthly end, they would be ushered into the presence of Jesus. Being sanctified and living blamelessly were even more important than survival. This week at Friendship, we'll dig into an Old Testament story of one whose faith was tested when he had numerous unfortunate and unfair circumstances happen to him. Yet, "God's Faithfulness in the Season" was shown throughout that time, even when he couldn't always see it. Let this reminder strengthen your own faith and willingness to stand firm on God's promises!