Who’s Really Fighting You?
Human nature is interesting, isn’t it? When we witness a painful event, our immediate reaction is to decide who's responsible.
Think about this in terms of sports. For me, it’s, still, the Red Sox 1986 World Series loss to the Mets. I would venture a guess, that like me, about 99.9% of Red Sox blame Bill Buckner. Young fans not even alive, know that Buckner’s error allowed the winning run to score in game six; a game where the Red Sox were “one strike away” from winning game and world series.
But what if, just like that infamous World Series, we're blaming the wrong person because we fail to see the events leading up to the ending?
Sometimes we blame the person who made the last mistake. Sometimes we blame the person standing closest to the problem. Sometimes we blame the person we believe should have prevented it.
Someone always gets the blame, it’s the way we are wired, like a coping mechanism.
And sometimes, and I would venture if we’re being truthful, it’s more like a lot of the time, whether we say it out loud or only wrestle with it silently, we blame God.
"Why did You let this happen?"
"If You loved me, why would You allow this?"
"Are You trying to teach me a lesson?"
"Is God against me?"
Those questions are not new; they’re as old as suffering itself.
The book of Job begins with a difficult question: Why do righteous people suffer?
I believe inside Job's story is another question we often overlook:
Who is actually fighting you?
Because one of the enemy’s greatest strategies has always been to convince us that God is the source of our pain.
Job 1 gives us a glimpse behind the curtain to a view that Job himself never had. As we see what was happening in the unseen world, it impacts how we understand suffering, disappointment, and spiritual battles in our own lives.
Many times in our lives the big moments become the story.
Something painful happens. Something unexpected breaks. A relationship fails to develop or falls apart. A diagnosis comes. A dream disappears. A door closes.
And we immediately look at the visible circumstance and declare:
"God did this."
In my experience, that is rarely a peaceful, sovereign accepting, “God did this,” but rather a “GOD DID THIS!” Followed by:
He hates me.
He’s laughing at my plight.
He’s against me.
The opening verse of Job gives us glimpse of a man who appears to have everything.
"There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil." Job 1:1
Job is described as a man who honored God. And blessed immensely by God, with a wealth, family and influence.
Then the story shifts from earth to heaven.
"Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them." Job 1:6
This is where everything changes. Because Job's suffering did not begin with Job. It did not begin with God deciding to harm him.
It began with Satan challenging him.
God has an exchange with Satan:
"The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” Job 1:7
Then God points to Job's faithfulness:
"And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Job 1:8
But then “accuser of the brethren,” Satan questions Job's faithfulness. He essentially tells God, "Job doesn't love You because he truly loves You. He loves You because You have blessed him."
Satan's challenge is not merely against Job but also an accusation against God's character. He infers to God, that He is only worthy of worship when life is comfortable.
Satan suggests that God is only worthy of worship when life is comfortable. That is humbling!
This is where many people struggle with the “trials of Job.” The story tells us something difficult:
God allows Satan to test Job. But there is a major difference between allowing something and causing something.
Satan is the one who brings the accusation.
Satan is the one who desires destruction.
Satan is the one who attacks.
God remains sovereign, but Satan remains responsible for evil.
Notice something important in verse 12, God sets boundaries.
"And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.'" Job 1:12
Satan does not have unlimited authority. The enemy cannot simply do whatever he wants.
But within the limits God permits, Satan reveals his true nature. The enemy hates that God’s people are filled with happiness amid trials; he hates the peace at which believers deal with undesired circumstances. Why? Because the enemy possesses none of those attributes – he is fallen and he knows the misery of his own soul.
Jesus describes Satan this way:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10
The contrast is clear.
The enemy destroys but Christ restores.
The enemy accuses but Christ advocates.
The enemy wants Job's faith to collapse but God equips Job's faith to endure.
Think back to the beginning, in the garden of Eden, Satan attacked, not merely the circumstances to eat forbidden fruit, but also Adam and Eve’s understanding of God.
"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
The enemy wanted humanity then, and now, to believe that God withholds good things from His people. That same deception is rampant throughout Scripture. When suffering comes, Satan wants us to believe:
"God doesn't care."
"God abandoned you."
"God is against you."
"God is the problem."
Scripture tells a different story.
Paul writes:
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..." Ephesians 6:12
Paul does not say we wrestle against circumstances. He does not say we wrestle against people. He says plainly, we are in spiritual warfare, often daily.
Thousands of years later, we know something Job does not about his story. We see the interaction in heaven, Job only sees earth.
Job lost everything – his possessions, his children, his health – and he has no idea why.
I cannot even imagine this scenario. From his perspective, everything is falling apart. But from our perspective, there is a much bigger story.
Again, humbling for us. Because we are often more like Job than we care to admit.
We experience one chapter and assume we understand the entire book.
We see the storm but not the purpose. We see the pain but not the protection. We see the battle but not the victory.
God never promised Job an explanation. He promised Job His presence and His immutable character.
God gives us as well.
He is the same God the day before the disaster, He is in the middle of the disaster and He understands the suffering:
“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13
So Who’s Really Fighting You?
This does not mean every hardship is directly caused by Satan. Scripture shows that suffering can come from many places – the broken world we live in, the consequences of human choices, our own sin, God's loving correction or spiritual opposition.
But Scripture is clear about one thing: God is not your enemy. The One who gave His Son for you is not looking for opportunities to destroy you.
Jesus said:
"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
When difficulty comes, we should be careful before allowing bitterness toward God to take root.
Instead of immediately asking:
"Why is God doing this to me?” or “Why is God withholding this good thing from me?”
We need to ask these questions:
"How is God strengthening me through this?"
"Where is the enemy trying to steal my trust?"
"How can I remain faithful in this battle?"
The Battle Is Real. But So Is God’s Faithfulness.
Job's story does not end with Satan winning. The enemy's accusation was wrong. Job's faith was not built only on blessings.
The next time life feels like everything is against you, remember Job. Remember there is more happening than what our eyes can see. Remember that the enemy wants you to blame the wrong person. And remember he wants you to question the character of God.
And remember this:
The God who allows the battle is also the God who walks with you through it.
The question is not only:
"Why is this happening?"
The deeper question is:
"Who is really fighting me — and who is fighting for me?"
Faith does not mean pretending the battle isn't real.
It means recognizing that the battle is bigger than what we can see. It means arming yourself for battle.
Our hope is not found in understanding every circumstance. Our hope is found in knowing the character of the One who holds us through every circumstance.
Father God, you are wisdom, your ways are best, you never leave our side, you never change and you love us beyond what our human minds can comprehend. We can trust you in all things and we are grateful for that. Give us your mighty power to fight off the enemy’s schemes. And make it our chief goal to bring you glory in and through our actions. We are grateful – in Jesus' mighty name we pray – Amen!
Brothers and sisters, I pray you find this encouraging today. If so, please leave a comment below. Have a question or need prayer, comment below or send us an email at info@reverentawe.com.
We love hearing from you! Be well!