He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. (John 8:44-45)
Three years ago, I watched my daughter suffer from anorexia and am convinced from the deception I saw at work that Satan may have been more responsible than some of the other explanations I was given. She is fully recovered now, although I still see her struggle with her self esteem from time to time. I’ve learned to look for the enemy when deception shows back up in her life.
I say all this because I believe there was a spiritual side to what I saw going on in my daughter’s life. Don’t misunderstand me. She received the best treatment that the secular world had to offer, treatment that proved to be pivotal to her quick recovery. But I also believe that the devil was working overtime on this child, which means that any lasting solution had to recognize his presence, too.
Whenever disease or tragedy comes our way, it’s important to realize that everything evil that happens to us is not the result of a direct satanic attack. While I believe the enemy is always indirectly involved, I also know the some of what happens is probably more the result of life in a fallen world. In short, maybe some of the suffering that comes our way is self-induced. Whether the product of ignorance, unbelief, indifference, or a combination of all of them, we can never overlook the consequences of free will.
I also don’t believe that suffering is always the product of our own sin or indifference to the Lord. If that’s the case, then why did Job experience such vicious attacks on his life? Remember, the Bible described him as “blameless and upright”, one who “feared God and shunned evil”. (Job 1:1)
Here’s what Paul said we should do when the enemy attacks: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13-18)
I saw how much God can use the secular world to take care of my daughter. But I also know that the lasting solution to her problem did not just come from a combination of therapy and medication. It also included prayer.
I see a lot of Christians facing crisis in their lives, using only what the secular world has to offer. Sadly, they fail to realize that prayer is the most effective weapon God has given us to fight the troubles that life brings our way. Jesus half-brother, James, didn’t believe in the value of prayer either, at least not in the beginning. But he later admitted how wrong he was when he wrote, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)
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