Satan's Role in Our Trials

“Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

All of Satan’s involvement in our sufferings and trials is under God’s control, which means our success against him is also in God’s sovereign hands.

During the past twenty-five years, there has been a tremendous upsurge of interest in the occult, Satan worship, and evil supernatural influences. Such unwise fascination has had an impact on the church and led to an overemphasis on spiritual warfare in some circles. But such unbiblical emphases give us an unbalanced perspective on the role Satan plays in our trials and persecutions.

On the other hand, 1 Peter 5:8-9 places Satan’s activities in the proper context. Peter urges us to watch our surroundings and be alert to possible temptations. But as we do, we can be encouraged that Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan, and therefore the evil one can have no long-term victories in our lives (1 John 4:4).

Peter goes on to admonish us that we need to resist Satan, which simply means we must “stand up against” him with our spiritual feet solidly planted on the objective truth of the Word (see also James 4:7). The Devil is a liar and a deceiver, and the surest way to deflect his onslaughts is with the infallible, revealed truth of Scripture.

In the biblical accounts of Satan’s participation in the trials, persecutions, or sufferings of God’s servants, God is always the one in control (see Job 1:1—2:8; Matt. 4:1-11). Therefore, our responsibility as we prepare for possible satanic attacks is to recall that our own grand strategies of spiritual warfare, however relentless and innovative they might be, will not provide the vigilance Peter speaks of. Paul gives us a further example of the right kind of preparation when he describes the essence of spiritual warfare as “taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). If we heed the implications of those words, there’s really nothing else we need to have or do in combating the Devil.

Ask God to give you a biblical, balanced approach to dealing with Satan and his many subtle temptations.

What does this passage affirm about Jesus’ authority? What basic lesson did the disciples need to be reminded of?

Satan attacks us with lies. Lies are his weapon of choice. This is why taking every thought into captivity to Jesus Christ is our weapon. Truth overcomes lies like light overcomes darkness. It behooves us to read God's Word and diligently seek His truth and use it as our sword against the onslaught of the evil one.

Since the garden of Eden the evil one has tried to convince us that God does not love us, but is trying merely to keep us down and trick us. It isn't The LORD who is doing this, but the evil one surely is.

We must stand in the knowledge that The LORD loves us perfectly and does what is best for us. He has our best interest in mind and to trust Him is to see Him go to work for us

So many Christians think that to believe that He wants evil for us is true piety. I do not. We think we have perfect faith and understanding, so it must be God's will to torment us.

Like Job who constantly looked to his own goodness, excusing himself, rather than affirming God's perfect righteousness and goodness, we inadvertently attribute evil things that happen to us to God, and thereby deny His righteousness. When Job repented in dust and ashes, realizing that his own righteousness was as filthy rags, realizing that he needed to justify God, not himself, then The LORD restored him.

Most think the book of Job is all about suffering with patience, and justify all of their sufferings as God's perfect will for them. God uses suffering and terrible things to help us learn important lessons, yes, but His perfect will is for us to come out of trials with lesson learned so that He can bless us.

Job 42:5 - I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 6 - Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 42:10 - And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Also concerning the book of Job, everyone always mentions his bad news bear friends. No one ever mentions the one young friend, Elihu, who had it right. God, at the end of Job, picks up from Elihu, continuing to speak from his correct point of view. Elihu isn't included in with Job's friends that God said were not correct. Much can be learned from Elihu. He's one of my favorites.

Also, not everything the other friends say is wrong. Just like most people they are mixed bags.

I hope lots of Christians reread Job for what it really says, not just the general consensus.

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