1 Thessalonians 3

English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy,our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy's Encouraging Report

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reportedthat you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God,¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

It's hard when we see our friend's suffering. Paul here is worried about the affliction that the Thessalonian church was suffering. Suffering has way of showing people who they really are. It separates the true in heart from the people who liked the idea, but not necssiarily the practice. It can be scary to be in a relationship that might dissapoint you. Paul has praying and yearning for this church to be growing in Christ. They are like his children that he wants to see prospering, but he left them in a situation that could have easily lead them to give up their faith. Oh, the relief he must have felt when he heard about their faith. 
I think often take many things for granite and don't realize the joy that can come out of them. There can be great joy in watching the church of Christ grown; however, what you put into it is what you will get out of it. There is great joy in coming along side someone and mentoring them in their faith. 

Father, I ask that you would give me good mentors in my life to encourage my faith. I ask that you would put people in my life whom I can minister too. Give me wisdom and courage in my relationships. Show me how to love others. Please supply what is lacking in my faith. Amen.