I had a brief conversation with a dear friend of mine today. We were talking about the struggles of life and she was trying to convince herself that these struggles were for a purpose – that she needed to embrace them as a tool that God uses to build our character. You know – I’m starting to agree with that. I don’t mean that we should rejoice because we struggle, but I do think that people blame the devil far too often. We give him too much credit.
The devil can’t do anything that God does not allow him to do – every part of God’s creation does His bidding, even the enemy! God allowed him to do everything but kill Job – why would he do that? Why would God, our Father, think it was a good idea for us to go through so much? I want to be the kind of person that goes through a trial looking for the lesson, not cursing the devil for making me suffer. What, God? What am I supposed to be getting out of this? Let me learn it now so I can move on to something else!
What if we all went at problems that way? What if we stopped whining so much and started getting happy that God cares about our character? That’s what it really boils down to, doesn’t it? He cares that we live upstanding lives that bring glory to His name. He cares that His children are moving through life applying the example Christ gave us. So I find myself wondering if I truly am following that example, or if I’m following the example of religious tradition? Do I do some things just because I’ve always seen it done that way or because it’s actually the truthful representation of my Savior? Hmmmm…
Abs of Steel 
There is no doubt the devil gets too much credit when “challenges” arise in our lives. A strong mentor in my life taught me something so simple a couple of years ago, but it’s so profound that I think about it and apply it almost daily. In any situation I face – good or not so good – my first response is not to curse the enemy, but to turn my attention to the Father (the one who deserves my attention) and ask Him, “What are YOU saying in this? What is the TRUTH?” My whole perception changes. I begin to see things by the spirit and beyond my natural understanding. There is such freedom in that. Why would I waste my time talking to the master of confusion? That will only cause me to dwell in that state. Instead, I have communion with the one who gives me rest and peace through the storm. Even if understanding doesn’t come, that place in the Father is so safe and vast that all of the “challenges” don’t seem so mountainous after all.
Could the devil get you to write another blog post? We miss you in the blogosphere.
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE!
Did you forget how to type? Production has been over for eight days and you still haven’t blogged. Your fans need you.
I’ve been getting a third option laid on me. It’s the one that I’ve started checking first. The devil doesn’t have to make me do it if I choose it of my own free will. If I step out into trafic without looking as I know I should, Is there any surprise when I get hit by a car. Some things have inate results that God placed there before time. God can’t change that. He designed it perfectly the first time. I’ve had to start looking to see if I did something to forfeit his protection.
On the other hand, failing that, I’d sure rather move toward the Lord than away from the Devil. I’d think that looking to God for answers may take looking through the Devil. If I were the devil, I’d love to chase people away from God by standing between them and Him. So Devil, “I’m not looking at you. I’m looking through you to see what movement my God wants from me.” too.
This reminds me of the story Graham Cooke tells about the people who used to follow him from conference to conference and harass him. God takes Graham into the Throne room and shows him what these hecklers are really doing. He is being chiseled into the greatness that the Heavenly Father sees Graham to be. The finished product was brought about by these men who seemed to be trying to destroy him.
So when stuff hits me I TRY to remember I’m being chiseled. Sometimes I have to spend a lot of time on the floor before I remember!
If you want to see it on U-Tube