But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

I sometimes wonder how baseball outfielders stay focused on the game while playing behind a pitcher who is a strikeout ace. Normally, they wait and wait for the ball to come to them. They might play a three-hour game, and only be involved in three to four plays. But every play they have to be ready to act as if it was the most important play of the game.

When I read this passage, I get an odd feeling that it was not planned ahead or designed to be in this place in advance. Why? Because Paul says, “But Timothy has just now come to us from you”.

When I think of what might have happened here, I picture Paul and Silas waiting and waiting — stuck in Athens, and waiting — for a word from Timothy as to the condition of the Thessalonian church. They were praying intensely that God would protect this new church, that he would strengthen its believers, and that they would grow in God’s grace and truth.

So they started writing to the church. Maybe Timothy was delayed or they had not heard from him? They wanted the Thessalonians to know what was on their mind about them. And they wanted to stay diligent.

Have you ever been in a prolonged time of waiting? You may know there is great ministry that needs to be done, people that need to be encouraged and possibly needs that are going unmet. But you are required to wait.  

I have been here. And it is hard. Sometimes waiting is harder than the hardest work. But we must retain our hope in Jesus, we must spiritually train our mind and soul to be ready to act when God calls.

Prayer is productive, but we sometimes don’t see the results until far into the future. So here are Paul and Silas, waiting to hear back from Timothy, waiting to hear the news of spiritual health and activity. Every day, like the outfielder on every play, they would prepare their hearts for obedience to God’s will. And they would stay alert, praying and waiting.

So when Timothy bursts onto the scene, I imagine a party of sorts begins. The one who could inform them how the spiritual battle in Thessalonica was going was here. Even more important and praiseworthy — he had good news!

May I be patient in the waiting and alert and ready, working my daily disciplines and time with God like an athlete prepares to play a game. For he is always faithful — SO FAITHFUL — to work in the background and advance his Kingdom of Saved Souls!

Lord, thank you for teaching me here that waiting, though not fun, is important to do in a healthy manner. Sometimes I wait and wonder, but help me to learn more and more to wait and pray. You want my heart ready at the right time to serve you.