I’ve certainly been struggling to maintain a good level of happiness lately. I contribute that to the current events circling our globe with this virus and the breakdown of our economy. I know there are many others who are sharing this same discouragement. However, I’ve also found that I hold the power to let it steal my happiness or to overcome the negative emotions.
In this article, I want to discuss how the devil uses certain methods and events to steal our joy and what we can do to prevent this from happening. Ultimately, God has the final say, but each of us still play a strong part in how we live. I also want to remind you and anyone reading this that God can turn things around for the better. What Satan intended for our harm, God can use and turn it into a thing of glory.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
The devil has been stirring things up since the beginning of mankind, so this is no shock to God. But we tend to have a different outlook on this. Many people don’t even acknowledge that Satan is behind the turmoil in our world, and possibly, they don’t even consider that there is an evil presence. Instead, many just look at it as bad luck or that maybe God’s mad at them and He’s punishing them.
It’s important to understand that God is good and is steadily working for our good. He doesn’t cause bad things to happen to us, especially to punish us. However, this doesn’t mean that He doesn’t allow bad things to happen to us.
Why would He do that?
Remember the story of Job? God allowed Satan to test the faith and character of Job. He was virtually stripped of everything good in his life. In the end, he didn’t lose his faith in God and was restored. But God allowed something difficult to happen to a follower who wasn’t doing anything wrong. God knew this would build Job’s character and add to his testimony.
Related: How does Following Jesus lead to the Good life?
Is it possible that the devil meant for harm to each of us and God allowed the entire planet to be affected? Is it possible that God is looking to use the situation to help people and build testimonies, and ultimately, to be glorified?
Well, I guess only God truly knows that. But that’s where we must take a stand and try to find some good in this mess.
Having faith is a choice
Just as choosing to be happy is a choice, having faith in God to maintain each of us is also a choice. It’s one that does take effort and must be done on a steady basis. God wants you and me to pray about everything, but more importantly, to believe in Him and maintain the faith that He will answer our prayers.
There are many people that believe that God doesn’t do miracles anymore; that those were the Old Testament days.
But I ask: do we practice the same faith in God these days?
Unfortunately, over time, standards get lower and levels of dedication and commitment drop. And in society today, we can see a collapse of hope and faith in God. But if we take a look around, especially in our own lives, we will find ways that God is still working. There are still people who are recovering from great illnesses and coming back from extreme debt, even in a collapsed economy.
Don't Let the devil Defeat You - learn to combat the tactics of the devil through Christ to be better equipped in spiritual battle.
God is a God of miracles, but it’s important to realize that God doesn’t see things the way we do. We ask, “How will we pay our mortgage or buy food?” But God’s not looking at it from that perspective. Instead, He sees it as, “If they would put their faith and trust in me, they would have all they need.”
Too often we get caught up in what we can see around us. But God wants us to get caught up in what we can’t see. He wants us to seek Him for provisions and to believe in our hearts and minds that God will provide all that we need. God also wants us to be content with what He provides and when.
There are many people who have been stripped of wealth and opulence and social groups and even health and I believe that it’s God who allows this. This happened to me and I believe it’s because God is trying to work out a plan. He wants us to rely on Him. Sure, He gives us skills and talents and intellect that allow us to create wealth and such, but He wants us to seek Him for all provisions first. If we get away from needing His providence and moving to a point where we are self-sufficient or self-reliant, then He might very well step in and bring us to our knees.
Is that what He’s doing in our world today? Have the vast majority lost faith in God or have become so self-reliant that God isn’t needed anymore? Is He allowing this event to bring us to our knees, that we would return to our faith in Him?
2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Allowing defeat is a choice
Deuteronomy 28:1-13
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.”
I believe this is what the Lord is doing today, and what He’s trying to tell us. God does have a glorious plan, and although the plan isn’t ultimately fulfilled until all has passed away and we move on to eternity, there’s still a part of the plan for today on earth.
What if we lived by this Scripture and were obedient to God? Even if not as a whole country, but in your own household to start with? Is it possible that God could work a miracle? Have you or I truly given Him a chance?
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We don’t have to be defeated in life. I believe that if we would put our faith in God and maintain daily obedience to Him, that He would keep us from harm and deliver us from the evil one. I believe that we would walk in a higher form of wisdom and make better choices. I believe that more families would stick together and live in love and not division.
Satan wants to break you down and ultimately, defeat you. How does he do this? He separates you from your source of power. If he can get you away from obedience to the Lord, he can make you vulnerable to his attacks.
Seek out a relationship with Jesus today and stand firm in your faith. Allow God to restore what the devil has taken.
Related: How to be happy when life is hard?
Conclusion
I know it seems like a bit of a fairy tale to think that there could be a revival around the world and that we could all get along and be happy and that God would start performing great miracles again, but I strongly feel that big changes could be made. But it must start with each of us individually.
People say that one person can’t change the world, but God can. God wants us to live happily and without stress and worry. He doesn’t want us to live in fear of Governments or viruses or the devil. He wants you and me to take our focus off those things and only look to Him and maintain faith that He’s working everything out for our good.
Folks, we need a revival in this world, and it starts with a choice by each of us to return wholeheartedly to God today. God will meet you where you’re at. He will take your worry and anxiety and uncertainty and trade it for happiness and inner peace and encouragement.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Happiness is a choice. Living in defeat and frustration is also a choice. God is giving you and I all the necessary tools right now to overcome the enemy and stand in the power and glory of God.
But it’s a choice!
If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can follow this link (Prayer for Salvation) to find out how. Also, if you need prayer for your life or your family, feel free to fill out a private prayer request in the provided prayer box in this article. My wife and I would love to pray for you.
Take care!