Note 4 at 2 Th. 3:3: In the previous verses Paul asked for prayer that the gospel would prevail. He requested this because there were "unreasonable and wicked men" who were seeking to stop the spread of the gospel. Paul experienced their persecution often.

Even though Paul was praying for protection and unhindered success, he knew opposition would come. Paul said that he had suffered much adversity (2 Cor. 11:23-30). How did he cope? How does anyone handle all the hardships that come to us in life? Paul gave his answer here.

Regardless of what others do, God is faithful. The key to maintaining our joy amid life's trials is staying focused on God's faithfulness instead of the unfaithfulness of others.

Note 5 at 2 Th. 3:3: Paul mentions two areas of God's faithfulness. First, He is faithful to establish us and keep us from evil. The English word "stablish" comes from the Greek word STERIZO, which means "to set fast, i.e. (lit.) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (fig.) to confirm." It was translated "strengthen" in Luke 22:32. The Lord is faithful to strengthen us and set us or turn us resolutely in a certain direction; our motivation comes from the Lord.

Secondly, the Lord is faithful to keep us from evil. Jesus told us to pray for this in Matthew 6:13, and He prayed this for us in His prayer the night before His crucifixion (Jn. 17:15). God delivering Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah is used as an example of His faithfulness (2 Pet. 2:6-9), and the Lord's preserving faithfulness is praised in Jude 24.

God is faithful to establish us and keep us from all evil, but that doesn't mean every Christian will automatically experience this. Our part is to receive it by faith (see note 6 at v. 4, p. 1257).