Victory: Afflicted But Not Crushed

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

We are afflicted in every way but not crushed;
we are perplexed but not in despair;
we are persecuted but not abandoned;
we are struck down but not destroyed.
II Corinthians 4:8-9

Do you ever feel like Satan is out to get you? Well, maybe he is. I have always been taught that if you are not where the Lord wants you to be, then Satan doesn't care anything about you. But if you are living in God's will, Satan can't stand it and will attack you from all sides to try to get you to fall.

Consider Job. He was a wealthy farmer with a very large family. And it bothered Satan that he was a man of God. So Satan went to God and said something like this: "Of course Job follows you. You've given him everything. Take it all away and he will curse you."

Little by little, God allowed Satan to afflict Job. He took away his sons and daughters. He took away his livestock and all his wealth. He took away his good health. The only thing Satan left Job with was his own life, his nagging wife, and three critical friends. Job was afflicted in every way.

Still, Job refused to turn his back on God. He asked some pretty pointed questions of Him. But his faith never faltered. Satan was speechless. God was pleased. And in the end, God blessed Job with even more family and wealth than he had had to start with. 

Today if you find yourself afflicted, just remember that Jesus Christ defeated Satan on the cross. The devil has no power over you. And no matter how tough things get, God will not allow you to be crushed. Jesus was crushed in your place. 

Lord, no matter what afflicts us today, help us to look to you for encouragement. We claim your victory over Satan and know that he cannot crush us. It's not possible because of Jesus. Thank you.

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