Cannot But Rejoice In Hope

"But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 NKJV

Here Paul tells about Satan's hindrance which didn't allow him to go and see the saints in Thessalonica. It seems that Satan works independently. But it's not true. The devil never works that way, ever before and never will do. Simply it is impossible for the devil to work by himself without God's permission. Look up and read the book of Job. It tells clearly that Satan can work only within the premise of God. He is not an independent agent at all, but the servant of God. Although it seems Satan can harm or hinder the work of God, it is impossible to do so because all he does is part of fulfilling the will of God.

So, we can maintain peace persistently in the midst of the devil's oppositions. We do not see the whole picture yet what our God is doing, but trust in Him that He would fulfill the good work through all pains and sufferings. Anything happening in our lives has meaning and purpose in fulfilling of His will because without Him nothing happens. Connecting all the dots in our lives shall accomplish God's plan perfectly. 

What did make Paul hopeful, joyful, and rejoicing? It was even the saints who received the gospel of God in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. Although his plan wasn't carried out by the enemy's hindrance, he had been remaining hopeful with joy because he believed that they would grow to maturity as God intended to be at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul expressed the same faith in other letter as well, "...that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6b NKJV)

The true hope of man is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why so? It's because in His  hands all things hang on operating and functioning without an iota of error (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17) It's our sure assurance of faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Everything will be revealed what they are on the Day of the Lord. With that patience of hope, we live in doing works of faith and labor of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3). We know already something, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV)