17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
This is a portion of Paul’s prayer for the believers in Thessalonica who were in the midst of persecution and trials. Paul’s prayer, which began in the previous verse, reads: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). God can give His people comfort amidst the greatest tribulation. As long as we have God to stand by us and the blessed hope of eternal life that His grace bestows in our hearts, all troubles will be counterbalanced. Our God is the “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Since God is the source of all comfort, let us go to Him in prayer for it. Let us not expect men to provide it, though God may use His children to bring His comfort to us. If, by God’s grace, they be instrumental in God’s hands to comfort us, let us gladly accept it. However, we must ask God to send His comfort into our hearts.
It is important that we do not allow our troubled hearts to slip further into depression by thinking that there is no comfort for us. We must encourage our weary and sad hearts to hope in the Lord for our comfort. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalms 42:5, 11; 43:5).
The apostle also prayed for the Lord to “stablish” suffering believers “in every good word and work”. The word “stablish” means make firm and steadfast. When God by His grace comforts our hearts, He will also strengthen us in “good word and work”. The expression “good word” refers to the truths of God’s Word, while the phrase “good... work” relates to the performance of all His good will concerning us in His service.
Trials often compel the hearts of believers to question and distrust the truths of God’s Word, and even to refrain from serving and praising God. However, those who wait upon the Lord for their consolation shall receive His aid to grow in faith and in understanding of His Word, and thereby offer themselves in greater service to the Lord. We may find ourselves being shaken by our trials, but let us seek His strengthening grace in prayer. As Paul assured the believers later in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.”