Calling a Spade a Spade: Spiritual Warfare

Thinking I was alone, I came to find out the last week or so has been discouraging for many of my friends. Marriages frustrated by miscommunication, misunderstanding, or -- yikes -- no communication. Jobs demanding more hours and work, and finances being stretched further than they've ever had to go. A greater struggle to spend time with Jesus in prayer, meditation, and contemplation leaves us feeling convicted and sapped. Temptation crouching constantly at the door. God pierced my heart with his love and grace last week... so as I was snatched from the funk, I saw others mired in it. Why all the frustration right now?
Then it occurred to me. A flood of scriptures came racing to my mind. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).
Many of us are being bombarded by a spiritual warfare the likes of which we have never seen. Many of my friends are new believers and are facing a heavy dose of trial, of testing of and stretching the faith. Other friends are in key positions planning an art auction for charity, leading community groups, and seeking to live out their faith in front of others and are now being pummeled by an Enemy who wants it all to stop. It is the testing of our faith.
So rather than stumble or muddle through it, how do we walk strong in faith in these difficult days? A couple of truths.

• Remember the truth of "It came to pass..." That's one of the Bible's most encouraging phrases. Many trials last for a season. Stay the course.
• Know that the Enemy is a dog on a leash. He only has the power God releases to him, and we know God's purposes for our life are good. Temptation does not have to overwhelm us because it will not defeat us. When Satan comes at you, stand strong, run from temptation, and respond with truth from Scripture.
• Let your trial and the war inside you (and maybe surrounding you) serve its refining purpose. "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious that gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). As the goldsmith purifies the gold through burning away impurities in fire, so our Father God can only burn away some of our imperfections through fire. But we can trust that the refining fire will result in us reflecting him, as pure gold reflects the goldsmith, when he looks at us. 

Stay the course. Stand together in community and accountability. Ask people to pray for you, and be diligent to remember God's people around the world who are suffering a more dire fate in a far greater danger for the sake of the Gospel. Persevere. The best is yet to come.