Christ died for us so that we might live with him.
The first letter to the Thessalonians is likely to have been the first letter written by St Paul (of those that have survived, he probably wrote many more letters!).
Paul and his correspondents lived within a hostile and pagan culture - sounds familiar? The letters are full of encouragement and advice on how to survive. Paul had founded the christian community at thesalonika on his journeys (See Acts chapter 16). Then as he continued on his travels he wrote to them and very probably got letters back from them (how sad it is that these are not preserved!).
Todays' text from Chapter 5 of the letter encourages us to not worry about when that day will come for our return to heaven. We need to trust, have faith - we will be where we belong in God's own good time.