If you are anything like me, there are things some of us have faced in life we just can’t allow ourselves to think about, or the painful reminders and memories cripple us, emotionally, mentally and physically. Sometimes when my mind wanders and I go to those unpleasant memories, the enemy can throw some sharp, jagged darts through my heart. Those darts rip and pierce through and leave a wound feeling as though it will never heal.
One night I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. The Holy Spirit nudged me with the song, “Goodness of God.” Especially these lyrics: “I love Your voice. You have led me through the fire. And in darkest night, You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend. And I have lived in the Goodness of God.”
The enemy wants our peace when we are on track with God. He wants to derail us. We have to be on guard and mindful of his tactics. We can’t let him win our peace. In the darkest night, God is close like no other. But so is the enemy.
Too many times I have fooled myself into thinking I am untouchable; the enemy can’t get near me. This was foolish, ignorant thinking on my part. The enemy is a vicious, evil, corrupt liar on the prowl, and he wants us. He wants those of us who love Jesus. He doesn’t care about people who aren’t saved. They are of no use to him. You and I are the ones who pose a threat to his desire to destroy.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” - John 10:10 (NLT)
The enemy is the thief. He wants to steal our peace. He wants to steal our joy. He wants to kill us with his lies. He wants to destroy us with his corruptness and his evil outlook. But Jesus told us His purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life.
The enemy is relentless, though. It isn’t enough for us to pray and read God’s Word. We are fighting a serious battle. A battle that turns into a war. And the enemy does not fight fair. The enemy attacks us in our dreams. The enemy attacks us and taunts us with guilt and shame. But God is always there to give us His strength. Call on Him. He responds well to cries of pain and wailing heartache. I cannot tell you the number of times I have been comforted by His presence through my cries of heartache and pain.
He is so faithful. “I’ve known Him as a Father and I’ve known Him as a Friend, and I have lived in the Goodness of God.”