Comforted. 1st Thessalonians 3:7 Paul was facing intense distress both internally and from others. When he received Timothy's report on the Thessalonians' progress in the things of God, he was greatly comforted. He no longer feared for them, as he learned their faith was growing and they were maturing spiritually. In his great joy at this news, he thanked God for them and the matters concerning them.
The report Timothy brought to Paul was a comfort to him in the same way that a mother and father are comforted when they know their children are safe in dangerous times. Parents' worry and suffering might have led them to hope that their children are safe as they go through the same struggles.