Chapter 4: The Enemy’s Strategy—Distraction Through Difficulty
Each day we wake is a gift from God, another opportunity to rejoice and give thanks. Today, we continue exploring a vital question: Why does the enemy work so hard to keep us focused on our circumstances, trials, and tests?
As believers—whether seasoned or new in faith—we must recognize the enemy’s intent: to lead us away from our faith in God. He does this by overwhelming us with fear, loneliness, and doubt, especially when we dwell on the negative aspects of our challenges instead of trusting in God’s promises.
Satan is a master deceiver. The Bible reminds us, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). He has used the same tactics for generations. Like a coach repeating an old football play, the enemy keeps running the same spiritual schemes—but only those unaware or unguarded fall for them.
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, NKJV). Satan is not omnipresent like God. He moves to and fro, using his forces to scout out believers who are spiritually asleep and vulnerable.
Testing and trials reveal the strength of our faith. Can the enemy cause you to waver? Will you stand, or will you fall? His goal is simple: to get you to fixate on the problem rather than the promise.
The word circumstances refers to conditions or facts related to an event, often including our financial or material state. If you’re under financial pressure today, the enemy wants to use that situation to overwhelm you and draw your focus away from God.
But don’t fall into the trap. Open your Bible. James 1:2–3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” The enemy doesn’t want you reading this. He wants you stressed, anxious, and isolated—cut off from God and His people.
Yet when we remember that God promised never to leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), we are encouraged to remain in His presence. If we stay with Him during our toughest moments, praising Him in the storm, our faith is strengthened, and our patience grows.
Why praise God during a crisis? Because praise lifts your thoughts from fear to faith. It shifts your focus from the problem to the Problem-Solver. As you praise, you cast down imaginations and arguments that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5).
The enemy constantly seeks to exalt himself—even in your thoughts. If he can get you to obsess over your trial, he distracts you from hearing God’s voice. But when your mind is stayed on God, you are in a position to hear Him clearly and be led by His Spirit.
Yes, your faith will be tested. Satan will try to shake you, to see what you’re made of. Will you buckle under pressure or stand firm and lift your voice in praise?
James 1:3 reminds us that “the testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience isn’t passive—it’s the active trust that God is working, even if the situation doesn’t change overnight.
Stay with God. He will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6), but we must be careful not to walk away from Him. That’s the trap. The enemy wants you to abandon God, isolate yourself from His people, and walk away from the Word. Why? Because isolation makes you easy prey.
Consider the animal kingdom. Predators seek out the isolated, the weak, the distracted. If Satan can convince you to pull away from God’s Word and His people, you become a vulnerable target.
One of Satan’s most effective tools is fear. Fear is a distressing emotion caused by real or perceived danger. Whether the threat is genuine or imagined, fear can paralyze you. And if you’re walking in fear, you’re not walking in faith.
James 1:8 tells us, “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” If the enemy can create instability in your mind, he can gain a foothold in your life. You can’t walk in fear and faith at the same time. They cannot coexist.
You’ve probably heard fear defined as “False Evidence Appearing Real.” But let’s be honest—some of the challenges you face are very real. Your trials aren’t imaginary. Yet the Word of God is also real—and more powerful.
Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” You have power. You have authority. But the enemy doesn’t want you to know it. He wants you to feel helpless, hopeless, and ready to give up.
Don’t let him win. You are more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). No matter what you’re facing today, don’t walk away from God. Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
If your circumstances feel overwhelming, lift your hands and worship. Turn on praise music. Fill your space with God’s presence. Think on things above—things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
As you do this, God will begin to reveal answers. He will give clarity. You may not see it yet, but He already has a solution. Remember: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Keep reading, keep singing, keep believing. Hope will come. Revelation will come. Direction will come. God is not silent. He speaks—and He will speak to you.
Closing Word:
Don’t allow your circumstances to become your focus. Lift your eyes. Praise God. Stay in His Word. He will never leave you—and He will guide you through every trial.
Key Takeaways:
-
The enemy’s goal is to distract you with circumstances so you lose focus on God.
-
Trials are tests of faith designed to produce patience, not fear.
-
Praise shifts your mind from the problem to the presence of God.
-
Fear and faith cannot coexist—choose faith and reject fear.
-
Stay connected to God’s Word and His people to avoid isolation.
-
God has already given you authority and guidance—seek Him to receive it.
From The Daily Word with Pastor KBN: Circumstances, Trials & Tests (Part 4), Mar 28, 2025
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-daily-word-with-pastor-kbn/id1800872165?i=1000701199835&r=606
This material may be protected by copyright.