Don't Let The Devil Get You Down
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When the Devil knocks on your door and turns your life upside down, there are some things to remember.
GOD IS IN CONTROL. He always has been and always will be. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego faced the furnace of fire for refusing to worship the false God’s of the king, they were resolute in the fact that God was in control. Satan will tempt us, present us with trials and temptations, and sometimes cause misery in our lives, but ultimately God is in control. This is the God that loves us, that sent His son to die for us, that has given His all for us. The God that gives us every good and perfect gift. The God that promises that we will not be tempted beyond our capabilities. The God that provides a way of escape with every temptation that Satan hurls our way (1 Corinthians 10:13). Satan may tempt us, cause us pain, but through it all, God is in control.
GOD IS WORKING IT FOR GOOD. God uses Satan’s evil to strengthen us (1 Peter 5:10). When we trust God and endure the suffering that Satan presents to us, we will grow stronger in our faith, stronger in our trust in God, and stronger in our hope for eternity. 1 Peter 1:6-9 describes our trials as “precious”. They are precious because God through these trials helps us grow. When we trust Him through our trials, the faith that is produced is a lasting faith that comes out stronger on the other side. While we are in the middle of suffering, we often don’t see the growth and the benefits, yet knowing our God we can trust that He is working all together for good when we trust Him. When we trust God, suffering leads to a greater faith, greater trust, greater humility, and a greater maturity as a Christian. James tells us as Christians to “count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
YOUR SUFFERING MAKES YOU UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO HELP OTHERS. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” There are other Christians who we will come in contact with who will be going through similar suffering and trials. It is very possible and likely that we will be put in someone’s life for the very purpose of being a source of comfort for them through their trials.
SUBMITTING TO GOD ASSURES A POSITIVE OUTCOME. James 4:6-8 says, “God resists the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
God never promises that we will live a life without pain, sorrow, struggles or temptations. It is actually quite the opposite. If we live faithful to God, there are going to be times when we suffer, struggle and are tempted. However the strength God makes available to us through faith will build us into stronger, more complete Christians. Regardless of what we are enduring as faithful Christians, God is in control and is working it for good.
