1 Thessalonians was written to encourage the Christians in that community with the goal that they would continue to grow in godliness, and this was to be motivated by their hope in the ultimate return of Jesus Christ. Scripture never tells us to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, for true inspired change is a life of consistently walking in the power of God’s Spirit. And so to a group of young Christians with questions and uncertainties, Paul offered the hope of Christ’s return, providing both comfort in the midst of questions and motivation to godly living.