You’re living righteously and walking in faith, yet the enemy’s attacks have somehow intensified. Instead of breakthroughs, you feel crushed, your life under siege. Where do you go from here? Do you feel like giving up, questioning God, or do you wonder if He even hears you?
These feelings are real, but don’t let them be your answer. No matter how hard life seems right now, do not give up! This isn’t the time to lose faith; it’s the time to keep pushing through. Experiencing adversity doesn’t automatically mean you’ve sinned, nor does it mean God isn’t hearing you, and it surely does not mean to question your faith.
This isn’t a sign of defeat. Instead, it’s a spiritual signal. This post will expose why spiritual attacks increase when living righteously, offer encouragement through God’s unwavering promises, and equip you for ultimate victory in your battle.
The Enemy’s Relentless Strategy
So, why have the enemy’s attacks intensified? Why haven’t you seen the breakthroughs you long for? If you’re genuinely living a righteous life, as we discussed in my previous blog, the reason for these heightened attacks is straightforward: the enemy wants to see if you will doubt God’s promises, lose faith, complain, and make negative confessions. When you give in to these, you inadvertently empower the enemy, paving the way for your own defeat.
Consider Job, a man righteous in God’s eyes. The devil told God that Job’s faithfulness hinged solely on the spiritual hedge of protection around him. However, if his divine protection were taken away, Job would curse God. Later in the chapter, Job went through spiritual warfare. Stripped of everything—health, wealth, and his children—Job, amidst profound grief, declared, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21 KJV).
Thankfulness & Confidence Amidst Spiritual Attacks
Notice how Job did not foolishly curse God or sin. Instead, he praised the Lord through his trials. When you face your own troubles, you’re called to do the same: continue in faith, thanking God for everything.
If grief overwhelms you, as it did Job, remember God’s promise to be near. He states He is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are humble and repentant in spirit (Psalm 34:18). He asks that we “cast our cares upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV). God speaks to us in Isaiah 43:2, saying, “When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Now, suppose Job had cursed God—what outcome do you think would follow?
Understanding the Spiritual Attack
The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He desperately wanted Job to curse God and sin. If Job had, who knows what would have happened? Perhaps his mind would have filled with doubt, despondency, and defeat. If you do the same in your trials, you hand the devil the perfect ammunition to overthrow you. Many suffer spiritual bondages like anxiety or depression as a result of this defeating behaviour.
God’s Word actively instructs us on how to respond to the enemy’s tests. As Philippians 4:6-7 encourages, “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” This means giving thanks in all circumstances—the good and the bad—because “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 KJV).
Life presents challenges for everyone, believer or not. Understand that God didn’t promise a life free from these challenges; however, He promises victory through Him. Psalm 34:19 emphasizes this: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”
Your Path to Victory: Resisting the Devil
The enemy’s attacks are relentless, so you must remain sober and vigilant against your adversary. When you think he’s let up, he’s still strategizing against you. The stronger you become in faith, the more intense the attacks may get. But there is a way to make the enemy flee: you must resist him.
How do you resist?
- Challenge the devil’s temptations and lies. If doubt creeps in during your fight, remember, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV). When fear takes hold, recall that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).
- Cast down negative thought patterns through God’s Word. Use Scripture in prayer to cancel the enemy’s negative suggestions.
- Submit yourself to God. This is essential because Jesus has already defeated Satan through His shed blood on the cross. Submission involves seeking God through prayer, studying scripture, fellowship with believers, and unwavering faith. You already have victory through the cross; rejoice and praise the Lord in this promise!
Ultimate Victory: Overcoming Spiritual Attacks Through Faith
Job lived this out during his ordeal. His wife told him to curse God, and his friends insisted his suffering stemmed from sin. Yet, Job remained steadfast in his faith, rebuking his wife and defending his righteousness against his friends’ accusations. His faith never wavered; he gave praises to the Lord when he said, “Blessed is the name of the Lord.”
In the end, God restored Job’s health, wealth, and family, even giving him twice what he had lost. While Job questioned God’s reasons for his suffering, he ultimately humbled himself and trusted in God’s ultimate wisdom and guidance.
Similarly, in the face of adversity, you may not understand why it’s happening. However, you can rest assured that maintaining your faith in God, His promises, and His wisdom will bring a great reward. Hebrews 10:35-36 (KJV) encourages us: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
What specific “intensified attack” are you currently navigating in your life? Share your experience or a prayer request in the comments below!
Issa
I really needed to hear this! I will have to return to reread it for strength and confidence. Be encouraged to write more! You are anointed to do this!