Satan Isn’t Attacking You—You Just Made a Bad Decision
Stacey sighed as she slammed the car door shut, the hollow thud echoing her frustration. The old sedan had finally given up, steam curling from the hood like the last breath of a dying animal. "Great. Just great," she muttered, kicking a loose rock into the street.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling past the barrage of unread messages from her boss. She already knew what they said: more complaints about her performance at work, another warning about her tardiness, another reminder that she was teetering on the edge of unemployment. And then there was Ryan. Her boyfriend's texts were fewer, colder. Lately, their conversations had become a battlefield, every word a landmine.
It had to be Satan. He was attacking her. He was the reason her car broke down, the reason work felt unbearable, the reason Ryan was growing distant. She had heard it so many times before—when life falls apart, it's because the enemy is on the prowl.
But as she sat in her dimly lit apartment that night, drowning in self-pity, an unexpected notification pulled her from her spiral—a reminder about her small group Bible study. She hadn't planned on going. Not with everything going wrong. But something in her chest urged her to.
The living room of her friend Jess's house was warm, filled with the scent of coffee and the low murmur of conversation. Stacey slumped into the couch, barely listening as the group started talking about their week. Then, someone mentioned James 1:14-15.
"Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death."
Stacey frowned. "So, are you saying that everything bad that happens isn't Satan attacking us?"
Jess leaned forward. "Exactly. Satan is real, but he isn't omnipresent. He’s not personally sabotaging every flat tire and bad breakup. Sometimes, we face consequences from our own choices. Other times, we’re just living in a broken world."
The words settled over Stacey like a heavy blanket, uncomfortable but warm.
She thought about work—her lateness, her procrastination. She had been blaming the enemy, but in truth, she hadn't been giving it her best effort. She thought about Ryan. Had she been listening to him? Loving him well? Or had she been so focused on her own frustrations that she’d pushed him away?
And the car? That was just life. Cars break down. The world is fallen. Things go wrong.
By the end of the night, something in Stacey had shifted. Maybe Satan wasn’t attacking her. Maybe she just needed to take responsibility, to make better choices, to trust God through the struggles instead of looking for a supernatural scapegoat.
As she drove home in a borrowed car, she whispered a quiet prayer.
Not for Satan to leave her alone.
But for the wisdom to see things clearly.
Many Christians are quick to blame the devil when things go wrong in their lives. A missed opportunity, a financial hardship, a strained relationship—it must be an attack from Satan, right? While spiritual warfare is real, and the enemy does seek to deceive and destroy (John 10:10), we need to recognize that much of our suffering comes from our own poor decisions and the natural brokenness of the world we live in.
Satan’s Limitations: He’s Not Omnipresent or Omniscient
First, we must understand the biblical reality of who Satan is and how he operates. Satan is not God’s equal. Unlike God, who is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscient (1 John 3:20), and omnipotent (Revelation 19:6), Satan is none of these things. He is a created being, limited in power and knowledge (Job 1:6-7). He cannot be everywhere at once, nor does he personally know every human being.
Satan does, however, have demons who carry out his work. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that we wrestle against spiritual forces of evil, and 1 Peter 5:8 warns us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion. But we should not assume that every hardship we face is a direct attack from him or his demons.
The Role of Our Own Choices
One of the greatest truths Scripture teaches is that our own choices have real consequences. James 1:14-15 explains that we are tempted by our own desires, which, when acted upon, lead to sin and ultimately to death. Often, the struggles we face are the natural results of poor decisions:
Financial struggles? Maybe it’s not the devil attacking your bank account—maybe it’s overspending, a lack of wise stewardship, or failing to budget.
Relationship problems? Maybe it’s not a demonic assault on your marriage—maybe it’s neglect, selfishness, or poor communication.
Spiritual stagnation? Maybe Satan isn’t blocking your growth—maybe you aren’t prioritizing prayer, Scripture, and obedience.
Jesus made it clear that difficulties are a part of life. In John 16:33, He said, "In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Trouble is guaranteed, but not every hardship is a spiritual attack.
Living in a Fallen World
Beyond our personal choices, we must also recognize that we live in a broken world. Romans 8:20-22 teaches that creation itself is subjected to frustration because of sin. Because of this, sickness, disasters, injustice, and hardships are inevitable. Blaming Satan for every trial ignores the reality that we live in a world that is groaning for redemption.
Taking Responsibility & Engaging in True Spiritual Warfare
While it’s important to recognize Satan’s schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11), it is just as important to take responsibility for our own choices and respond biblically:
Repentance & Wisdom - If your choices have led to hardship, acknowledge your responsibility and seek God’s wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Spiritual Armor - Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us how to truly engage in spiritual warfare: through truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, Scripture, prayer, and the gospel of peace.
Personal Discipline - We must actively resist the devil (James 4:7), but also discipline ourselves in righteousness (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
Trusting in Christ’s Power - Ultimately, victory over sin and the enemy is found in Christ alone (Colossians 2:15).
Own Your Decisions, Fight the Right Battle
Not every struggle is an attack from Satan. Sometimes, we are reaping what we have sown. Instead of giving the devil credit he doesn’t deserve, let’s take responsibility for our choices, seek wisdom, and engage in true spiritual warfare as Scripture commands. When we do, we will walk in the freedom and victory that Christ has already secured for us.
