Can you believe we’re in 2025? Many of us feel pretty good about starting a fresh new year and bringing in new change in the governing administration. Are you breathing a sigh of relief with the changes you see happening right now in our country?
Great, but don’t get too comfortable. Governments change every few years and it’s NOT our savior, nor should it be. Yes, let’s thank God for His grace but let’s not be lazy Christians.
In reality, the government got so out of control because We the People didn’t stand up until it was out of control. We let things slide, didn’t think it could get any worse, and trusted that someone was keeping watch. Meanwhile, the spiritual decline was happening before our eyes, in our families and even in our own hearts and minds because we let down our guard. The attack on our nation began first with the attack on our family.
Families are falling apart, Christians as well as non Christians, with divorce rates being almost equal.
Grown children are walking away from their faith, “deconstructing” and searching for answers in the secular world.
Our youth is being entranced and indoctrinated through all the media outlets at their fingertips due to modern technology.
People are chasing the American dream and finding success at a high cost to their family
We are each called to protect what happens within the walls of our home. We have a duty to call out evil and stand up to wrongdoing, at the very least in our own families.
You’ve probably heard this famous quote repeated,
“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.”-Edmund Burke
Well, we can’t afford to do nothing. There are spiritual attacks that come against us to wage war against our soul. The spiritual attacks are everywhere but if we learn to be prepared and stand on guard, we’ll be better equipped to fight the attack when it approaches.
Scripture tells us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
The enemy wants destruction. He wants lack, loss, and breakdown in your life. He’s constantly looking for ways to upset what is peaceful and corrupt what is good. Like the thief that he is, he’s always looking for easy access.
So how do we protect our families from these attacks?
Scripture says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Have you ever watched an animal documentary? The prey is always vigilant of its enemy and on guard. It should be the same with you. Be mindful of what comes into your home, your heart, and your mind as well as what your family brings in. What is the household mindset? Does it align with God or is the world getting a hold of it?
It’s easy to look the other way, but that only works for a short while. Eventually, what’s swept under the rug starts to spill out and the mess becomes more difficult to clean up.
Yet, even so, God is not done. Never underestimate the God you serve and what He can do with even the worst of situations when you surrender it to Him and His will.
Besides being vigilant, we need to be prepared. There’s a difference. Being vigilant means we’re looking out and aware of our surroundings, whereas prepared means we’re ready.
Scripture tells us what we can do to prepare ourselves for spiritual battle.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-18
If you continue reading on in Ephesians, it tells you what that armor is. Putting on the armor of God is your protection against your hearts, mind, soul, and spirit. God gives you the strength to bear up under it.
Stay strong in prayer. Keep open communication with God about your concerns, gratitude, decisions, and heart attitude. God will bring to light what needs to be exposed. He will replace anxiety with peace. He will settle your spirit and help you take on the real enemy instead of fighting issues or the people around you.
I’ve seen the effects of seeking God in my own life in the lowest of lows. Even at rock bottom, God met me there. He comforted me. He’s brought me hope in the deepest darkness. There’s no depth too far gone for God, if you’re willing to seek Him.
A few years ago, my family experienced a lot of change and loss. Each one of us was hit hard in different areas of our lives. It was painful to watch, to live through, and to feel helpless. The spiritual attack on our family was relentless. The accumulation of so many conflicting emotions took a toll on our human spirit.
As I tried to make sense of what was going on in my life and that of my family, I found myself in the book of Job reading about his suffering.
If you’ve read Job, you know the answer to the question, is Satan looking to attack your family? The answer is simply, yes, he is! He’s always looking to corrupt and break down what God has created and ordained as good.
Therefore, we have to be on guard and prepared to withstand the attacks. Thankfully, in God we find all we need. I was comforted by a few things that stood out to me in Job and I hope you are too.
When life as you know it comes to a screeching halt and you take on journeys you’re unprepared to navigate, you are not alone. You have a God who cares for you and loves you and your family more than you can ever imagine.
Spiritual attacks will come; they are inevitable. But God is bigger than it all. He wants you to lean in and learn from him. He wants to carry you through and make Himself known through your weakness so that you will see Him at work and glorify Him.
So if your family is dealing with a spiritual attack, here are four ways to make the suffering fruitful:
There’s Purpose in your Pain
As Job sat there mourning all he had lost (and he had lost a lot!), he started questioning why this pain was coming upon him. What he didn’t know was what was happening in the heavenly realm. He didn’t have access to the interaction between Satan and God. He didn’t know Satan’s accusation and how God had pointed him out as blameless and upright. And he couldn’t fathom how God could or would use this to build up his strength.
When things fall apart around you and your family, it’s easy to look at your family circumstances and feel hopeless, but remember that your suffering has meaning. God takes bad situations that Satan uses to attack and bring purpose out of it. He teaches, shapes, and strengthens you through trials and fiery situations.
Mourn with Hope
We’re human. God knows that, he created us and understands our limits. Job tore his clothes and shaved his head. He was mourning the loss of his family, his provisions and possessions. Imagine losing everything at once?
I guess our version today would be clothing ourselves in sweatpants and an old t-shirt and hiding our grief under a messy bun, ladies. Ever been there? Well, there’s a place for mourning. Grieving helps us heal and our suffering and messiness in life create the fertile ground needed for growth to take place.
Jesus said it this way, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” John 12:24
The difference between mourning to heal and sinking into deep depression is what you do with it. It’s ok to feel, grieve and cry while still being thankful and holding onto hope. Don’t lose sight that God is still good. Picture what God can do. See your family whole even when it’s broken. Picture your family healed in the presence of suffering.
In Jobs’ suffering, he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:20-21
Wow, what an example to follow! Is it easy? No, I wish I could tell you it was, but God is faithful and when you seek Him, He meets you there. He gives you what you need, a little more grace, to go on for just a bit longer; enough to get by but not depend on yourself.
Maintain a Humble Attitude
We get protective of ourselves and our rights when we feel loss. This is when pride can show its ugly roots. We feel we have a right to be angry, and we don’t deserve this. Maybe that’s true. Job’s suffering didn’t come because he deserved it, yet he suffered nonetheless.
If we don’t check our spirit, pride can take over, which only leads to bitterness, anger, and a self righteous attitude that bears bad fruit.
How we handle our suffering will be an example to our children. If our children see us in humility running to God, they’ll learn to run to Him too. They’ll follow your example and know where to turn, which leads to the next point.
Turn to God for Answers
Job had well intentioned friends, as you probably have well intentioned family and friends as well. There was some truth to the advice his friends gave him. In their defense they too were clueless to the discussion before the throne of God. It’s fitting to look for and receive godly counsel from our faithful Christian brothers and sisters as long as we don’t put godly counsel above God’s counsel.
As God told Job,
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurement
Surely you know!
Job 38:4-5
I’m in shock sometimes with my own feelings and lack of ability to get it together. I get tired of being tired, you know? Yet, I realize that nothing draws me closer to the Lord more than suffering.
When you can’t count on anything or anyone, God is always present. You and the Lord. Sometimes, it’s just how it’s meant to be; you before your Heavenly Father, your Maker, the one who knows you more than anyone else and it’s more than enough.
He’s more than enough.
And He’s not afraid of what you bring to Him because He can handle all things. Because of this, you and your family can overcome your sufferings and go from being victims of Satan to victorious in Christ.
Keep in mind that your family is a team and your team was put together by the creator of the world! Look to battle out the hardships together even when you don’t agree. The thing that the enemy hates most is a united family working together.
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