Often, when someone begins to receive God’s Word and light starts breaking into their soul, opposition rises sometimes through trials, daily struggles, or inner discouragement. The enemy knows the power of God’s truth and will try to distract or weaken him with pressing needs, doubts, or feelings of being overwhelmed.
I have articulated a profound and widely observed spiritual dynamic. What I’m describing is the recognition that spiritual awakening and growth are often met with resistance. This isn’t a sign that something is wrong; rather, it’s a sign that something is profoundly right and that it is being noticed by forces opposed to that light.
Let’s break down this truth and explore its implications.
Why This Happens: The Spiritual Battle
This statement aligns with a classic understanding of spiritual warfare. The “enemy” (often referred to as Satan, the accuser, or the father of lies in Christian theology) operates primarily through deception and distraction. His goal is to:
1. Snatch the Word Away: This is directly from the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-23). Jesus explains that when the word is sown in a person’s heart, “the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.” He does this through immediate distractions, pressing needs, and worries of this life that make the truth seem less urgent or real.
2. Create Doubt: He did this first in the Garden of Eden with the question, “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1). He attacks the credibility of God’s Word and His character, fostering distrust.
3. Incite Discouragement: By magnifying struggles and hardships, the enemy tries to make the new believer feel that following God is too difficult, that they are alone, or that their initial joy was just a fleeting emotion.
Common Forms of Opposition
· Trials & Daily Struggles: Financial pressure, health issues, or relational conflicts suddenly intensify. These are “pressing needs” designed to shift focus from eternal truth to temporal problems, making it hard to pray, read, or trust.
· Inner Discouragement: Feelings of unworthiness, guilt over past sins (even after forgiveness), and a overwhelming sense of not being “good enough” for God’s love. This is a direct attack on the core message of grace.
· Doubts: Intellectual questions (“Is the Bible true?”), emotional questions (“If God loves me, why is this happening?”), and simple fatigue can set in. The enemy twists legitimate seeking into corrosive skepticism.
How to Respond: Standing Firm in the Light
Recognizing the source of the opposition is the first step to overcoming it. Here’s how one can stand firm:
1. Expect It: Normalize it. Understanding that opposition is a common, even expected, part of growing in faith can prevent a person from thinking, “God has abandoned me” or “I must not be cut out for this.” It reframes the struggle from a reason to quit to a sign of progress.
2. Abide in the Word: This is the ultimate defence. If the enemy’s goal is to snatch the Word, the believer’s goal is to cling to it tenaciously. Even reading a few verses a day provides light and truth to combat lies. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
3. Prayer is the Lifeline: honest, raw prayer. Not just reciting requests, but crying out in discouragement, naming the doubts, and asking for strength. It’s the practical act of depending on God rather than one’s own dwindling strength.
4. Community is a Shield: Isolating oneself makes a person an easy target. Sharing struggles with a trusted believer, small group, or pastor provides encouragement, prayer support, and perspective. They can often see God’s hand at work when the individual in the storm cannot.
5. Remember the Truth: Actively combat lies with specific truths:
· Lie: “You are overwhelmed and can’t do this.”
· Truth: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
· Lie: “God is distant in your trial.”
· Truth: “The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
· Lie: “You are not good enough.”
· Truth: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
A Message of Hope
This pattern, while difficult, reveals a beautiful truth: The very presence of opposition is a testament to the value and power of the light that has been received. The enemy doesn’t waste effort on something that is not a threat to his domain. The struggle confirms that a real, momentous shift has occurred in the soul.
The journey begins with the joyful reception of light, but it is continued through the faithful perseverance that comes from clinging to the source of that light, especially when the shadows seem to grow longer. The promise is that the light, however small it may seem, is always stronger than the darkness.
Lesson comes courtesy by: Bro. Rowland
