IS IT AN EVERYDAY TRIAL OR IS IT SPIRITUAL WARFARE?
Life is full of trials. No one is exempt. Jesus promised we will face difficulties. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” In addition, we know Satan’s demons attack us. How can we know what comes from Satan and what is part of our human experience? Are they the same? Does it even matter if what we face is from Satan or from living in a sinful, broken world? Actually, they are different battles and we need to use different weapons to have victory against each of them. So, it’s important to understand the source of our conflict. Let’s look at some of them.
THE SOURCE. EVERYDAY TRIALS come from living in a fallen world, having a sin nature and being far from the way life was in Eden. We face health problems, relationship conflicts, financial burdens and temptations of the flesh.
SPIRITUAL ATTACKS have a different source – Satan and demons. Ephesians 6:12 says “… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Spiritual attacks occur when demons actively work to derail our faith and relationship with God. Satan can and will use everyday trials to try to discourage or defeat us. Ask God to give you wisdom as to the source of what is happening. When dealing with everyday trials, we may need to ask God for patience, wisdom, and perseverance. But if we’re facing spiritual warfare, we should ask God for the strength to stay strong in faith and rely on him to help us.
THE IMPACT. EVERYDAY TRIALS are allowed to strengthen our faith by causing us to rely more on God and they serve as a good testimony to others about God’s work in us. James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
But SPIRITUAL ATTACKS are aggressive attempts to destroy us and our faith. Demons try to create doubt, fear or confusion in us. They try to get us to question God’s goodness and His promises. The Bible warns against this: 1 Peter 5:8: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” When we recognize that we’re under spiritual attack, we need to respond with spiritual weapons like prayer and meditation that will move us closer to God and farther away from evil. Instead of giving into fear, we should declare God’s truth over our circumstances and rely on God’s help to stay strong in our faith.
THE PURPOSE. As we said, EVERYDAY TRIALS are to give us opportunities to trust God so our faith can grow. James 1:12 says: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
SPIRITUAL ATTACKS, on the other hand, involve temptation to sin and move further from God. Temptation never comes from God. James 1:13-14 “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”
In conclusion, it’s important to recognize the difference between everyday trials and spiritual warfare so we can respond successfully. While trials are a natural part of life in this fallen world, and God uses them to strengthen our faith, spiritual warfare attacks our faith and tries to distance us from God. The good news is that God will always help us fight – and win – spiritual warfare when we stay faithful.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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