Satan is Alive and Well

"...In the world ye shall have tribulation..."  From John 16:33

There are some people who believe that followers of Christ will live perfect, happy, carefree lives.  My first thought is that obviously these people have never read the Bible because then they would know that some of the strongest believers had the most troubles----Paul, John, and of course, Job come quickly to mind.  Christians know that Jesus told us we would have troubles in this world.  It wasn't a "this might just happen" kind of thing.  It was a "it is going to happen so get ready" kind of thing.

I have come to see that anytime God is about to do something big--you know, God-sized--in someone's life or in the church that Satan makes a beeline to their position to start his trouble making.  Things going pretty good in your life?  Satan will blow up your washer, dryer, refrigerator and car within a 30 day span.  Feeling pretty happy today?  Look out because here comes the meanest, rudest, most inconsiderate person you have ever met.  Church seeing a growth in attendance?  Oh my!  Murmuring, complaining, pickiness, and all their friends appear for service.  Yes, my friend, Satan is alive and well.  He is around every corner, on the highway, in line in front of you and anywhere else he can get to nag and pick.  He is out there and he is ready and waiting for you.

Oh, but guess what?  Here is John 16:33 in full...."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  We don't have to let Satan win that battle.  We don't have to let him get the better of us.  If Jesus is in us then He is our armor.  He has defeated Satan.  He will guard your heart.  He will give you PEACE.  

Let us be careful in our day to day interactions that we don't let the devil win.  Let us take care with our words, with our thoughts, with our actions.  When we feel that he is bringing more trouble than we can bear, let us invoke the name of Jesus.  Let us ask Him to fight that battle for us so that we don't have to.  Yes, Satan is alive and well.  But Jesus still conquers him!!