As christians, aside from eternity in God’s presence, we are also destined to experience afflictions and trials of different kinds to tempt us to abandon our faith. “Just as it has come to pass, just as you know.”
What is this “joy” that Paul is describing? He talks about being worried, having fear. He is not worried nor fearful about the afflictions, but about the faith of the Thessalonians – “that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV)”
When he found out that they were standing firm in the faith, in love, Paul and the others were filled with joy.
How can you encourage your spiritual fathers/disciplers? By letting them know, through your life, that their labor was not in vain.