“If you truly are the Son of God, then prove it by doing the following.” Satan, the devil, and the accuser of the brethren challenged Jesus three times. The accuser waited until Jesus’ circumstances were at their worst - hungry, alone, weak, and facing unimaginable suffering.

That “if” sounds eerily reminiscent of the devil’s cunning in the Garden of Eden when he whispered to Eve, “Has God really said that?”

That “if” is the same tactic Satan is using on you, urging you to disregard what God has said and instead focus on what you see or feel, in other words, your circumstances. He challenges your faith, insinuating, “If God truly loved you, would this be happening?”

“If God really loved you, would you face this hardship?”

“If you’re really a child of God, why aren’t your prayers being answered?“

“If Christianity is true, why is there so much suffering in the world?“

“If you’re truly blessed, why are you struggling financially?“

“If God guides you, why do you feel so lost and confused?“

“If you follow God’s will, why is everything so difficult?“

“If God is listening, why does He seem silent when you need Him most?“

“If God is your Father, why do you feel so alone?“

“If God’s yoke is easy, why does following Him feel so hard sometimes?“

“If God rewards faithfulness, why are others prospering while you struggle?”

Cast doubt on God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness.

Encourage believers to trust their circumstances over God’s promises.

Shift focus from God’s eternal perspective to temporary situations.

Sow seeds of distrust in God’s love, goodness, and faithfulness.

Lead believers to question God’s compassion, reliability, and consistency.

Prompt believers to question God’s involvement, intercession, and intervention.

Impede believers from recognizing God’s eternal plan and purpose amidst temporary trials.

Cause you to compare your struggles to others’ apparent blessings.

Cause you to interpret trials as punishment rather than growth opportunities.

Suggest that God’s silence means He’s absent or uncaring.

Suggest that your current circumstances define your entire future.

Suggest that God’s love is conditional on your performance.

Encourage focusing on what you lack rather than on God’s provisions.

He wants to exploit our emotions. He strikes when we’re vulnerable, using our pain, fear, or disappointment to amplify doubts.

He misrepresents God by twisting our understanding of God’s nature, suggesting that love always equals comfort or immediate resolution.

He promotes self-reliance by sowing doubt, tempting us to take matters into our own hands rather than trusting God.

Know the truth of what God says and hold on to it no matter what is happening.

God just told Jesus that He is His beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased. The devil waits for trouble to call into question what God said.

That is exactly what he is doing with you. He wants you to take your eyes off who God is and what He says to see your circumstances and then blame God.

Faith or trusting God means we rest in His promises despite our circumstances.

So, we must acknowledge how good God has been to us regularly. He felt pleased before the trial, and he will feel the same afterwards as well.

I love how the Bible says in Romans 4 that Abraham believed. Abraham did with God’s promises what we are to do. He believed in hope when there appeared to be no hope. Abraham refused to consider his body or circumstances. He didn’t stagger at God’s promise, but gave God the glory. He was fully persuaded that God could keep His Word.

Just rest. Trust is rest. Come unto me all you heavy laden. I will give you rest.

Don’t look at the circumstances; look at God’s character. Don’t let your senses tell you what to do. Put your focus on the God of the promise.