Life comes with many challenges that are simply normal and expected as part of life in this world. At other times, the timing and intensity of challenges seems like more than just bad luck. Our life is lived with many unseen spiritual realities operating behind the scenes. And perhaps it’s more than just a mere coincidence when we must face our given trials.
For instance, it’s possible that our latest fight with our wife is just normal marital conflict. And tensions at work might simply be reasonable differences of opinions. And getting the short end of a company’s bad policies might just be the luck of the draw for us.
But there are also spiritual forces of evil at work in our lives that are more than willing to pour gas on these issues and turn them into something much more.
To be sure, the thief of goodness often stirs up discord and conflict, and sets up perfectly evil circumstances to push our buttons and threaten to take us out. And this is why we’re instructed to stay alert and watchful so that we don’t fall prey to one of his many cunning traps.
Likewise, we’re reminded this fight is not ultimately against flesh-and-blood enemies. It’s a mistake to assume our wife, coworker, company, or the like are just out to get us. While they certainly have their own sins and shortcomings to address, more is likely going on in the unseen spiritual realm when the time and intensity of these challenges carry a certain sinister smell.
Why have things become so disruptive now, and to this degree?
Often, whenever we’re in position to advance goodness and light, find deeper healing and peace, or simply live with greater freedom, power and love, we quickly find ourselves in the crosshairs of evil. And remembering this allows us to stay alert and resist his schemes.
In the end, it’s probably not a coincidence when everything seems so hard and intense at once. Our enemy is trying to wear us down. Stand firm against him, strong in your faith.
Photo by Raul Angel on Unsplash
