Christianity and Religion
This Is Why Satan Attacks You So Much
It Isn’t Because You Are Weak…
The story of King David is one of the saddest accounts contained in The Standard Works. To see such a valiant servant of God, a great king and prophet, fall into murderous and adulterous paths causes me great pain each time I read it. King David, of course, is not the only one who is enticed to commit sin or abandon God throughout scripture. We read of Judas, an apostle turned traitor, we read of Jonah, a great prophet rejecting the instructions of the Lord, and we read of countless others along the way who follow the same course of action.
Some of these stories have happier endings than others, but they all beg the question: How? How is it that such great and righteous servants of the Lord can be turned into such direct rebellion?
I’ve pondered this question quite a lot in my own life, and it leads me to wonder why it is that good people all over the place, myself included, fall into forbidden paths and choose the wrong. Indeed, every time I feel the adversary’s influence trying to drag me down I wonder to myself: why does the adversary attack me with such fervor? Is it because I am weak, or less able than other people to fight his influence? I don’t think so.
If that were the case, explain why even Christ himself was visited by Satan and tempted by him. No, surely the frequency and intensity of Satan’s attacks upon us are not indicators of brokenness or a lack of faith. If not, what are they?
Maurice Harker says this:
“[Eclesiastical leaders ask] what is the common denominator? What should we watch for? And there is only one common denominator I have been able to find: they are all threats to Satan. So if you feel like you’re getting beat up really bad, and the dark side tries to convince you that’s because you’re more broken than the average person is, no. The reason you’re getting beat up all the time, and frequently, is because that’s how much of a threat you are to the dark side.”
When I read that quote I began to think of the accounts in the scripture where a person was attacked or influenced by Satan to do something wrong, and found that in each case Satan attacked them just before they were about to be or do somethine remarkable. Satan attacked them so fiercely not because they were failures or because they were weak, but because he saw that they were about to have a great impact for good.
Imagine what would have happened if David hadn’t gone after Bathsheba. Imagine how different the story would have been, even just for David’s spiritual development alone. Imagine if Judas had not sold out the Savior. We know what would have happened if Jonah had listened, because he eventually did, and it was remarkable. And we saw Christ change the world and and perform the saving atonement for every single one of us, leaving no doubt in my mind why Satan would have attacked the Savior of the world so intensely.
I have noticed this principle is true in my life as well. The days when I wake up and I find myself more irritable, or I experience more temptation from the adversary, or anything else of that nature, are the days when someone will text me, at the end of their rope, and need a comforting word. Those are the days when The Spirit will guide me to sit by the kid at lunch whose parents just had a divorce, and help make his day a little easier. Those days are the days when God will call on me to do a great work, and Satan knows it.
And it goes beyond just individual moments, I find that the people who struggle with long term emotional or spiritual problems are the ones who are the most dangerous to Satan’s plan. This doesn’t mean that they have lofty church callings, or even usually get noticed by the public eye, these are often the quiet angels among us that do God’s will without recognition and without praise; some of the strongest and most faithful followers of Christ we will ever get to see.
In addition, remember that if you are getting beat up intensely by the dark side, it is because God knows that you will turn to him, and the two of you will make it through to the other side.
Satan works only within the confines of what God allows him to do. Because of this, Satan will never be able to attack us or harm us any more than we are capable of handling through Christ. The most important part of that equation is through Christ, as we read in the scriptures,
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
— Phillippians 4:13
Think of it as if we were fighting a war, what would you focus your attacks on? Probably the major bases, the leaders, and the people in charge. You would still fight against the foot soldiers, but you would reserve more resources for fighting the more advanced and dangerous military units; The units that are truly threats. When you feel Satan’s attacks on you, that means you are truly a threat. Now you must act like it.
You may also think of it like a basketball game. If you are on defense, you wouldn’t triple team the water boy, you would only double or triple team the best players around. Why? Because you know if you only have one defender on those top people they will score on you all day, and you will lose. What Satan knows, but resents, is that we can beat him with God’s help, and we are going to do so. This is part of why he attacks us so hard; he doesn’t want that to happen, and he will take whatever ground he can get. However, we can use the power of Christ to combat him, and maintain the ground we have already won while continuing to expand and develop into what God has planned for us.
I testify that these things are true. I know that when we feel Satan’s attack it is not because we are weak and hopeless or because we are beyond repair and out of reach, it is because we have the potential to be a great threat to his kingdom. I also know that as we reach up in prayer, God will strengthen us through our trials and difficulties, and we will make it through to the other side with him.
“4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”
— D&C 122:4–9
You will make it, just hold on. You’re better than your mistakes, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
— Seth Fleshman
