As a Pastoral Counselor, I often see people who truly love the Lord but seem to live in a constant state of joylessness or defeat. In my experience those who have suffered from feeling defeated usually walk through one bad scenario after another. An abusive marriage, sickness or just life circumstances can naturally steal the joy from our hearts and wear us down. So often we cannot control life circumstances, however, we can prepare to conquer future obstacles that come our way by the way we think and most importantly… by having a better set of spiritual eyes. There is a huge difference on how we approach and heal from a situation as a Christians. Hence, healing cannot be fully successful without the sobering fact that there is an enemy of our souls.
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
A client of mine found herself in one unfair situation after another; undoubtedly, leaving her feeling defeated. She began to collect a list of wrongs in her life and could barely recall the last time she was free of a trying or troublesome circumstance that occurred in her life. She often thought to herself “God I can’t take any more of this!” Life circumstances left her feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
But there was another part of her that wanted to serve God and when she talked about it she would no longer feel her pain. She would speak on her future including making an impact for the kingdom of God right here on earth. Her countenance change and her beauty was apparent and her heart was ready to serve… but could never seem to shake the defeat. There was a true source of resistance against her and it blocked her from seeing the truth, the victory and the joy.
Listening to her story made it clear for me, her enemy knew her better than she did! See Satan knows that she is a loved and a favored daughter of the King. The easiest target for Satan are God’s children who doubt God’s love and/ or God’s will for their lives. Satan truly looks to destroy the works of the kingdom and hate the ones that has potential to bring Glory to His name.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest. John 10:10
Finally, true believers in Christ should recognize that when we experience challenge it teaches us to be more like Christ. However, you don’t have to stay in defeat all the time. You must put on your spiritual eyes and then you will see clearly the bigger picture. Your eyes will move from your current circumstance and on to the true battle of your soul and the victory awaiting through Jesus Christ. We tend to miss it all by living the voice of defeat.
Satan knew my client better than she knew herself, he knew she is a threat to the kingdom of darkness and therefore did what it takes for her to stay in defeat. Satan knows her potential… she doubted hers.
It’s never easy to go through tough circumstances, but as a Christian we must stay in the reality of the spiritual realm that our enemy Satan wants to kick while you are down so that you never get back up and live a victorious life that glorifies God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
And this is the best cognitive therapy. Right? That we train our thought to be aligned with Christ and the word of God and trust that He is still on the throne who will be our vindicator and our deliver and the one who makes all things good. No matter who evil the circumstances, we stay in the truth that God can and will overcome.
We need to speak back boldly and confidently against the strategic attacks of the enemy who only wants to keep her doubting God’s love and plan for her life.
In all this, I pray too you no matter what your circumstance are that you are aware just how real the spiritual realm is and how God’s power is much greater!
But, He who is greater in us is great than He who is in the world. So behold!
Father I pray right now whoever is reading this blog that your power and your great love breaks through any voice of defeat? Let them have eyes to see the greater battle what is going on. Let your children know who they are never doubting but always pressing on! Let them know their true identity of being royalty and carriers of your glory!
