We do not live in a demilitarized zone. We carry out our daily lives within enemy territory. Although it will not always be this way, for now we dwell in the realm controlled by “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). In an effort to pull us away from fellowship with the Lord and our effectiveness in the kingdom of God, Satan is always looking for weak spots to target his assaults on God’s children. His long experience with humans has taught him that we are especially vulnerable in times of physical weakness. This is why he delights in or taking advantage of times of physical suffering. Those living with the suffering brought about by chronic illness need to be aware of their vulnerability and the devil’s strategies. It is in these moments that he hopes to catch us, so that he may ruin us.
When a series of calamities that Satan provoked in rapid-fire succession did not cause Job to curse God (Job 1), the adversary was sure that persistent physical suffering would bring about Job’s ruin (Job 2). And it nearly did. Satan knew that touching the man hurt more than taking his stuff.
Moving on to the New Testament, before Jesus began his public battle with the powers of darkness, our Lord engaged in a private battle with the devil (Matthew 4:1–11). After his baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for a time of testing. Throughout the Old Testament, the wilderness—like the untamed sea—was a symbol of the forces of chaos and evil. Jesus went straight into the bastion of danger to be battle-tested. After forty days of fasting in this barren place, at his moment of Jesus’s greatest physical weakness, the devil launched his three-prong attack, attempting to topple our Savior’s ministry from the moment it launched.
Our Lord’s experience exemplifies why we need to be aware that the enemy of our souls sees our times of physical weakness and suffering as opportunities for an attack. Here are four of the enemy’s strategies to guard against when we are laid low by persistent physical affliction.
1. Catching us distracted.
Physical suffering is often consuming, in the sense that it screams for our attention at all times. As C. S. Lewis put it, “pain insists upon being attended to.” Whether is it the blaring siren of pain, the disorienting dizziness of vertigo, or the breathlessness of lung disease, it is hard to escape the demands of a body assaulted by disease. Navigating endless medical appointments, keeping of complex medication schedules, and facing the challenge of doing daily tasks places such a demand on our minds that there is limited time for other things. It is therefore easy to be so focused on physical needs that we neglect our spiritual needs. Just as a distracted soldier may miss the enemy’s approach, we may be caught unaware that temptation is crouching at the door.
2. Catching us drained.
You cannot fight as effectively when you are worn out before the battle even begins! The story of Job illustrates the truth that the slow grind of ongoing physical suffering wears down even those of strong faith. Chronic illness often creates an abiding weariness—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Weary souls are vulnerable, and our enemy knows this. This is why, on the night of his betrayal, Jesus warned Peter, James, and John, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). The enemy will try to use moments of physical weakness as times for devious opportunity to get you to doubt God’s goodness or to give in to a temptation that would otherwise be easier to resist.
3. Catching us doubtful.
Living with an enduring affliction provides a seed bed in which doubt may grow. We can doubt our standing with God, his love for us, and whether his promises are really true. The psalms of lament are filled with questions (and even accusations) about whether God sees and cares. These unsurprising kernels of doubt in the midst of affliction create the conditions for Satan to tempt us to pivot from a faithful walk with God. As he did with Eve in the garden, in these vulnerable moments, he will plant doubt in our minds and egg us on to a path of destruction. Job’s lament began with doubt, that quickly descended into despair—a place of even greater vulnerability (Job 3).
4. Catching us despondent.
A despondent person is one who has lost hope. As one’s physical affliction goes on for days, and days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, and months into years, the hope that the suffering will end can disappear. As his suffering persisted unabated, Job declared: “He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree” (Job 19:10). Like Job, despondent people often long for death. Unlike Job, however, some who reach this point make their longing a reality by taking their own lives. The depth and duration of their physical suffering has led them to a tragic route to escape their pain. While the enemy could not keep them out of the kingdom, he could keep them from working for the kingdom—a goal he has for us all.
Walking the Path of Victory
Our vulnerability in times of trials is why the apostle Peter warned, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Peter, who knew firsthand the devil’s strategy of attacking in times of weakness, helps us find the path of resistance. It begins by recognizing the seriousness of the danger and being on guard at all times. Knowing we have an enemy on the prowl is the first step of defense. We must be aware of the spiritual danger into which physical affliction may place us.
But there is more. We are not defenseless in the face assaults from the one who is “at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). By taking up the whole armor of God, we are equipped to face the cosmic powers seeking to ruin us (Ephesians 6:10–20). Armed with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shield of faith, we will be able to not just face these attacks but stand firm in the victory Jesus has won for us.
It is unwise to walk unaware of the risk to our souls when physical affliction befalls us. Though enduring physical suffering makes us vulnerable, we can “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). In the strength the Lord provides and resting on the promise of his Word, we can know victory even in times of suffering and weakness.
When the Hurt Won’t Heal
Svensson knows from personal experience how hard it is to navigate the spiritual, emotional, and relational challenges that arise when living with an ongoing ailment. He shares what he’s learned about God’s comfort and care through his struggles. If you are navigating life with chronic illness, When the Hurt Won’t Heal will help you find the path to growing in faith despite the pain, fear, or darkness you may be experiencing.
