The Incubator

 

When my brother and sister-in-law decided to raise baby quails in their charming country home, our girls thought it was the coolest thing. They were amazed that the eggs were shipped in a small box. The eggs were tiny and fragile and needed to be placed in a special device called an incubator, which provided the perfect nurturing environment for them to hatch and develop. It took about 2.5 weeks for the eggs to hatch, and each time we visited, the girls eagerly checked on them.

After about two and a half weeks, the girls came over to see if the eggs had hatched, but there was no sign of change. For a moment, we were convinced something had gone wrong and that the eggs wouldn’t hatch. My brother suggested we give it one more day before discarding them. However, the very next day, the first egg began to hatch, followed by another, and then another. Soon, all the eggs hatched! That warm, cozy environment worked its magic; sure enough, all the eggs developed into the most adorable, tiniest chicks.

While studying the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, I discovered that God also uses a sort of "spiritual apparatus" to help us grow spiritually. Our faith and love for God and His people flourish in this setting. It's a perfect, controlled environment that almost always guarantees results. However, God's incubator isn’t warm, fuzzy, and comfortable; on the contrary, it involves a period of tests, trials, and hardships. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul encourages them during their season of trials and eagerly checks on their growth.

He writes, "We sent Timothy... to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this." 

For a moment, Paul admits to fearing that something might have gone wrong.

"I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our efforts had been in vain." (1 Thess. 3:5)

It can often feel chaotic during the waiting period, and we find ourselves asking God, "Are you in this? Is this working?"

Paul later reports, "Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith and love…" (vs. 3-6).

Shortly after, Paul again writes to his beloved Thessalonians with another letter filled with encouragement and concern for their growth. He expresses his amazement, noting that despite enduring immense hardships, their faith continues to grow, and their love for one another is increasing.

"Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. (2 Th. 1:3)