Our pastor preached a message on the first 12 verses of 2 Thessalonians this morning, but I couldn’t get past verse 3.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly…
The phrase that keeps jumping out at me is that their faith was “growing abundantly.” Beyond being a nice, Bible-worthy phrase, what did this tell us about these people?
It may mean that they were counting on God for more and more. There was a growing understanding that God was active and responsive to their needs. They were also increasingly aware that God would infuse their lives with purpose and that he would be the author and initiator of all kinds of good when they participate with his purposes.
I’m thinking through whether or not my faith has had this kind of steady increase lately. If God leads us to take a huge step in a different direction than we are currently headed, would I be ready? Fortunately, God typically asks us to count on him for one step at a time. So a journey of faith consists of many smaller faith-acts along the way.
In that case, could it be that God sometimes keeps the final destination unclear so that our faith can grow with each step?
Sounds like something God would do.
Curious Heretic 
I am thinking through the issue of faith and doubt. Does your faith increase when you remove doubt or does your doubt decrease as your faith increases?
I would have like to seen what the Thessalonians experienced with their growing faith. I imagine they had little hope outside of God at the time which distinguishes them from Americans today.
Good questions about doubt. It seems to me that doubt comes and goes, irregardless of where my faith is. We have no immunity from doubt while our spiritual sight is still veiled.
I love the Jars of Clay song that says, “It’s just enough to be strong in the broken places.” If you ask me, the only way to “grow abundantly” in this kind of faith, the kind of Paul says the Thessalonians have, is to fail. Not in the sense of sinning that grace may abound; not purposely falling or belligerently doubting. But the kind of growth that comes from brokenness, strength that comes from testing, and faith that comes from questioning.