Faced with pressures on daily living, and confusion resulting from hearing false teaching, the Thessalonian Christians needed encouragement. Paul had given that. But they needed something more. They needed to remember God had a purpose for them, a purpose they could not afford to forget in the midst of their struggles. In this brief passage Paul gently reminds them of this and encourages them to reengage in God's plan. Knowing God's purposes for us and keeping them in focus is a challenge for us during stressful times, but is essential. It helps us look beyond ourselves (and our problems) and stay in sync with God.