DON'T LET SATAN WIN!
By: Jennifer Nystrom
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3 NIV
I was at my breaking point. My life was crumbling and I didn’t think I could hold it together any longer. My husband had recently started a new job that had him travelling a lot—and I mean a lot. He’d be gone for weeks and sometimes months at a time and always to places on another continent. This was the time before cell phones with texting and Skype. Consequently, we rarely got to hear from him and then it was just a quick phone call every few days. And, we had three young children at home.
He was currently in Amsterdam and I had planned to join him for a week. His parents had come to our house from California and were going to care for our kids while I was gone. The day they arrived; his mother had a massive heart attack. Needless to say, my plans changed and instead of heading to Europe for much-needed time with my husband, I was caring for my mother-in-law and comforting my father-in-law. She did recover and after a few weeks with us, they were able to travel back home where she continued to recoup.
During that time, there were many other small occurrences that added to my stress. I was talking to a trusted friend on the phone, sobbing, because I didn’t think I could continue. She calmly let me know how much she loved me and how much more God loved and cared for me and my family. Then she said something that has changed my thinking on stress and trials forever. She said, “You must be doing something right in your life because Satan is afraid of you! He is trying his best to break you. Don’t let him win!”
She was right, Satan was afraid of me and at that moment I was thankful for that fact and I wasn’t going to let him win!
Plan of action: The next time you are at a point where you are overwhelmed with a situation, thank God for the opportunity to work His miracles in your life and for not letting Satan win.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
James 1:2-3 NIV
I was at my breaking point. My life was crumbling and I didn’t think I could hold it together any longer. My husband had recently started a new job that had him travelling a lot—and I mean a lot. He’d be gone for weeks and sometimes months at a time and always to places on another continent. This was the time before cell phones with texting and Skype. Consequently, we rarely got to hear from him and then it was just a quick phone call every few days. And, we had three young children at home.
He was currently in Amsterdam and I had planned to join him for a week. His parents had come to our house from California and were going to care for our kids while I was gone. The day they arrived; his mother had a massive heart attack. Needless to say, my plans changed and instead of heading to Europe for much-needed time with my husband, I was caring for my mother-in-law and comforting my father-in-law. She did recover and after a few weeks with us, they were able to travel back home where she continued to recoup.
During that time, there were many other small occurrences that added to my stress. I was talking to a trusted friend on the phone, sobbing, because I didn’t think I could continue. She calmly let me know how much she loved me and how much more God loved and cared for me and my family. Then she said something that has changed my thinking on stress and trials forever. She said, “You must be doing something right in your life because Satan is afraid of you! He is trying his best to break you. Don’t let him win!”
She was right, Satan was afraid of me and at that moment I was thankful for that fact and I wasn’t going to let him win!
Plan of action: The next time you are at a point where you are overwhelmed with a situation, thank God for the opportunity to work His miracles in your life and for not letting Satan win.