Have you ever noticed how God always lets Satan go first?

Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). That is his plan for your life. It always has been and always will be. Sometimes when we come under attack from Satan we wonder why God doesn't act immediately.

But the Bible shows that God usually let's Satan go first. He lets him do his worst and then God moves in and redeems the situation. Nowhere is this fact clearer than in the book of Job. Yet we see it throughout scripture.

In the beginning… Satan came to Eden and corrupted Adam and Eve.

He used the Egyptian Pharaoh to bring the people of Israel into slavery in Egypt. The people were mistreated and abused for years. They grew in number, which led to the slaughter of innocent Israeli babies… then God parted the Red Sea and brought his people to the Promised Land.

Goliath intimidated the armies of Israel day after day. No one dared challenge him… until God raised up the shepherd boy David.

The prophets of Baal entered into a contest on Mount Carmel with Elijah. Elijah let them go first to see if Baal would answer… but it was the Living God who answered Elijah's prayer with fire.

Daniel was thrown into the lion's den before God delivered him.

Jesus' ministry began with the temptation in the wilderness first.

Before Jesus conquered sin and death, he was nailed to the cross first. Then came the resurrection.

Sometimes I wonder if God is taunting Satan. “Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough!”

God is always ready to contradict the attacks of Satan on our life.
That is why your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurt. Your greatest victory will always be in the area of your greatest pain.

Your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurt.

In 1987 my son died during a heart operation. Around the same period my parents both died prematurely. I think I can confidently say that episode of my life was the darkest.

And yet today, my most effective ministry is in Rwanda - a place of genocide and premature death. Every family has been touched by the finger of death. Yet in the midst of that nation's grief I find my most effective ministry. Unlike so many, I am not intimidated by the shadow of death that falls across Rwanda because I know my God can bring life after grief.

If you are in a place of darkness, difficulty and fear right now, get ready because when Satan has done his worst, and the dust settles, God is going to move to redeem your situation. And when he does you are going to see the glory of the Lord.

In the meantime we need to stand firm in our faith refusing to be moved by what we see.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.”
(1 John 5:4)

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