“Pastor,” I hear for the second time this month, “I’m struggling with my faith.” These feelings and the phrase are common among Evangelical Christians. At its core, it reflects Satan’s attack on God’s people. As I argued in my previous article, Satan hates God’s people. He is always working against them, aiming to unsettle our faith and steal our joy. In this article, I suggest four essential actions to take when Satan attacks.
Satan hates God’s people. He is always working against them.
As Lloyd-Jones says, “It is equally true to say of him [the devil] that he is relentless. I mean by that he does not cease or give up. He does not care what methods he employs so long as he can bring us down and discredit the work of God.” Satan is not playing hide and seek; he means business. For that reason, we must fight by the power of the gospel that we receive in Christ.
1. Pray
The first and most important step is to pray. This can be incredibly challenging, especially when you are doubting God’s existence. Prayer is an act of faith. But when you’re grappling with doubts, it can feel as if you’re praying to a “non-existent” being. Yet those who belong to Christ know deep in their hearts that we must pray; and that our heavenly Father hears and answers us.
Prayer is integral to our spiritual armour.
Pour out your heart to God in prayer. The Bible instructs us to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is integral to our spiritual armour; we pray as we fasten the belt of truth, we pray as we extinguish the darts of the evil one, and so on. Keep praying even if you feel ineffective. For the power of prayer lies not in our feelings but in whom and to whom we pray.
2. Meditate on God’s Word
Knowing the word of God by heart equips us to recite scriptures when the enemy tries to deceive us. When doubts arise, we can remind ourselves of God’s promises. When Satan attacks, the Bible is the “sword of the Spirit” that we must use to combat him (Ephesians 6:17).
Use the sword of the Spirit to fight against Satan.
One of Satan’s tactics is to distort the word. “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). Many of our doubts and discouragement stem from these distortions. By studying, memorising, and reciting the scriptures, we can effectively use the sword of the Spirit to fight against Satan and his tricks.
3. Talk to a Mature Christian
When I first wrestled with doubts about the existence of God, I confided in a close friend. My college roommate. But he shared Psalm 14:1, which was deeply discouraging. It’s therefore essential to seek counsel from a solid, mature Christian—someone who has very likely walked a similar journey.
Seek counsel.
Of course, we live in a fallen world full of imperfect people—including believers. Advice and counsel might be both sincere and misleading, more harmful than helpful. This should cause us to be discerning, and also to seek the counsel of those who’re more mature than ourselves. Finally, don’t hesitate to bring any doubts and discouragements to your pastor’s attention. He is, after all, your shepherd, placed by God in your life for times like this.
4. Be Persistent in Faith
I have two friends who were once passionate about their Christian faith, but have since turned away from Christ, after deconstructing their faith. It appears that the enemy has “won them over.” All of us face difficult periods, but more often than not, they’re only that—seasons to be persevered through. So don’t give up!
Be persistent. Stand firm in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray consistently, even when it feels like nothing is happening. Do your personal devotion, even if it seems dry and unfruitful. These means aren’t powerless,” but God’s means of grace. Continue attending church. Fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25).
You aren’t the first; nor are you alone.
Satan may accuse you of hypocrisy in these times. Remain steadfast. Persistently fight against sin and live a life that honours Christ, even when his authority seems distant in your doubts. Live according to the convictions of the gospel that you hold onto. Keep living the Christian life, even and perhaps especially when Satan attacks. The God of our salvation will deliver you in his perfect timing. You aren’t the first; nor are you alone. The Holy Spirit is in the camp, and many other believers are fighting this battle.
“My Faith Has Found a Resting Place”
The sufferings that the enemy inflicts upon us are ultimately transformed by God’s goodness and wisdom for his glory and our good (Genesis 50:20). While Satan intends these attacks to lead us to despair, God uses them to ground us in the gospel of our Lord and Saviour and to establish us in our faith. We will come out on the other side with fresh, solid joy and zeal.
It is worth reminding ourselves that for as long as we are on this side of eternity, spiritual warfare is certain. As E. E. Hewitt beautifully expresses in one hymn:
I need no other argument, I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.
Take comfort from these truths. Let us hold fast to our faith, trusting that the resurrected Lord will guide us through these battles.
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