Pastoral care should demonstrate particular watchfulness over people who are going through times of distress, loss, or tragedy. When Paul speaks about comforting
the Thessalonians, he has this reality in mind. While still in Thessalonica he saw and experienced the persecution that the infant church had to endure. He realized that this suffering might cause the believers to forsake their newfound faith in Christ (1 Thessalonians 3:5), so he sought to warn them of the dangers and encourage them to remain faithful to their Saviour.
From this we learn the nature of Paul’s comfort. It certainly did aim to relieve the distress of those who were suffering, but it was not merely a form of sympathy that focused on the emotions. Rather, it was aimed at helping them to stand firm in the life of discipleship when external pressures made such steadfastness very difficult.
So also, today’s shepherds must be aware of how suffering and loss can tempt people to become disillusioned with God or even to forsake him. They need to be active in comforting such people, assuring them of God’s love, presence, protection, and care, but also in exhorting them to remain faithful to the Lord.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,