Spiritual Warfare Is Real

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 esv

Maybe we thought we had it all together. Then one day those moments of joy and productivity end. For whatever reason, we have become overwhelmed with despondency and hopelessness. The days of looking ahead with anticipation are gone, replaced by dread as soon as we open our eyes. We want to be with family and friends, to feel like our old selves again, but the thought of engaging in any of those things is exhausting. We receive excellent medical care and follow all the recommendations for integrating friends and family into our lives. But something is still missing.

In some cases, depression isn’t rooted in the physical or the emotional but rather the spiritual. We must ask the Lord to show us truth, and in so doing, we might discover false beliefs or lies that have affected our choices and way of thinking.

Satan is an opportunist. He knows where we struggle and will use those weaknesses in any way he can to move us in a direction that is opposite what God has for us. Scripture tells us he has been sneaky since the beginning of time. He put his tricks into motion with the fist humans by asking Eve, “Did God actually say…?” Satan does the same today. He is subtle. He knows just when and how to attack to do the most damage.

While we work to find the root of our depressive symptoms, we should ask God to reveal any lie or half-truth that might be driving our lives and replace it with the truths of Scripture.

Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the “Beloved.” Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.

Henri Nouwen

The nature of the enemy’s warfare in your life is to cause you to become discouraged and to cast away your confidence. … The enemy wants to numb you into a coping kind of Christianity that has given up hope of seeing God’s resurrection power.

Bob Sorge

Spiritual warfare is very real. There is a furious, fierce, and ferocious battle raging in the realm of the spirit between the forces of God and the forces of evil. Warfare happens every day, all the time. Whether you believe it or not, you are in a battlefield.

Pedro Okoro

For Further Reflection

Psalm 51:12; Ephesians 6:11–12; 1 Peter 5:8

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for the reminder that sometimes the fight has nothing to do with my body or mind but rather an attack from the enemy. Help me to use the words of God to bring every thought captive. Amen.