Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. Mark 1:10-13 NIV
Notice the ironic timing in these verses. My human nature always assumes that we come under our greatest attacks from the enemy when we are struggling spiritually, but clearly that’s not the case here. The strongest Satanic attack on Jesus, recorded in the Scriptures, comes on the heels of God declaring, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Consider the other fierce Satanic attack recorded in God’s word for us.
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. Job 1:1 NIV
Job is not described as a man who was wavering in his faith, nor as a man who was engaging in sinful activity when the enemy brought all his weapons against him. Rather he was declared a blameless and upright man, who feared God and shunned evil.
Take heart, fellow believer, if you are going through a difficult time and find yourself under enemy attack! Don’t assume that it’s a result of some deep rooted sin in your life, or that you brought this attack on because you were in a state of spiritual weakness. It may well be that even the opposite is true. Let’s look again at these two examples.
At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness. Mark 1:12 NIV
Satan did not seize an opportunity to harass Jesus when he was in a state of spiritual weakness, rather the Spirit of God sent Jesus out into the wilderness to contend with the enemy! Could it be this time of testing served an important purpose in the life of the Son of God? Could it be the attack you are facing today may actually be God’s plan for your good?
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8 NIV
Did God actually bring Job to Satan’s attention? Yes! The reality is, there are times in our lives when God not only allows us to undergo attack from the enemy, but he encourages it, for our good. That’s a difficult thought to wrap your mind around, but once you do, you will find it changes your perspective in the heat of the battle.
Let’s find encouragement by looking at the outcome of Job’s endurance.
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job 42:5 NIV
As a result of the trials Job faced, he received a greater revelation of the God we serve! Isn’t that our ultimate goal? Is there anything better than that?
After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10 NIV
The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. Job 42:12a NIV
Take heart today, my friend, and don’t let the trial you face discourage you. Stand strong in the word of God and wait patiently for the Lord’s deliverance! Keep your focus toward heaven and allow God to reveal Himself to you. And when you arrive on the other side of the difficult trial, may you be able to share the testimony of David, the apple of God’s eye.
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3 NIV
And while you wait for that day, may Job’s declaration become your own:
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:10-12 NIV