From what we’ve seen, spiritual warfare hasn’t been encountering demon possessed people or having people tell us they see angels surrounding us, although I think these things happen. I think more often though, spiritual warfare is much more subtle. And when you think about it, it is most effective for Satan when the people he is attacking don’t even know they are being attacked.
I’ve seen Satan use roadblocks time and time again here in Bolivia to keep us from where we want to be. I don’t know that he is necessarily causing the roadblocks to happen but he sure doesn’t pass up the opportunity. The times that our team has been the most discouraged and disillusioned has been when we are stuck and are unable to get out to the communities.
The other night after we realized we weren’t going to get to the community because of yet another roadblock, I started having discouraging thoughts about everything, from not having as much time as we’ve wanted in the community to not progressing as we quickly as we may have wanted. I was feeling down and then one thought entered my mind that made me know these thoughts were not my own, but were being put there to discourage me. I thought, all this work for just a few people to know Christ. I knew this was not my own thought. These few people have no access to the Gospel otherwise and I believe the work our team has put into them was completely worth it.
I had no reason to be anything but encouraged about how our ministry is wrapping up before our stateside break and here I was doubting everything. It is not the first time I felt a whisper of discouragement in my ear and in that instant I realized what was happening. It seems like as soon as the enemy’s schemes are brought to the light, they flee. And as soon as they came, they were gone.
The enemy uses other tactics and I’ve seen a lot of the same things over and over again. Our team members, Adam and Jessica, have been getting ready for a training. As they were preparing, Adam had to head up and down the river and his boat kept breaking down even though it was in great condition and there was no reason for it to keep breaking. One day, as he was traveling with a few other guys on the team, the motor caught on fire. The other two guys couldn’t swim so they had to get to the shore quickly and watched the motor burn up for about 30 minutes. They were all pretty shaken up and really felt like they had been very close to death. Trent tried to encourage Adam by telling him to be excited! The Lord must be about to do something great if the enemy is trying so hard to stop this training from happening. They started the training on Monday so be praying for them and for the trainees that the Lord is sure to use.
Our guys just recently headed back home to their families for a much needed furlough. Of course they were looking forward to the time to be with their families and relax, but as soon as they got home, they were met with problems and it wasn’t like they thought it was going to be. Right as Roberto got home, his family got involved in a legal issue and instead of spending his first week home enjoying time with his family, everyday, all day was spent working on those problems. Javier got home and a few days later his cousin was unjustly put in prison and he had to try to help him with all of the legal issues, which can be impossible in Peru. While all of this was going on, he got a call saying his mom fell and badly hurt her back.
I’ve never been in a real fist fight, but spiritual warfare feels like that to me. You get knocked down and you have to just get back up and keep fighting. Sometimes it feels like when you are down, you get hit again and again. That’s when it gets exhausting and that’s when it’s important to realize and bring to light what is happening. That’s when we most need prayers and encouragement. I think a lot of people mistake these problems for reasons to give up, but the Lord never uses discouragement to tell you to quit. Only the enemy does that. So that’s when we have to get up, dust ourselves off and keep fighting.
Thanks for this great reminder – both to pray for you guys as you encounter the wicked lies of our enemy, and also for the reminder of this very real warfare in my own life. We love you guys.
Dear Trent, Kay, and family,
Being old, and as I get older, I see spiritual warfare daily and more clearly. I learned a long time ago that the result of this warfare plays out between my ears and, I expect, the ears of others. Understanding this does not necessarily make dealing with it easier. As you both know, the answer is in the use of the sword. As I read your blog, this scripture flooded my mind.
Phl 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.
I love your forward thinking to get excited about what God is about to do. Stay in that mode. He is about His business. I do look forward to hugging y’all in a few weeks. We pray traveling mercies for your family, especially Jack and Maya, as you head this direction.
adios,
Duane
Good, good, GOOD word, Kay. I really needed to hear this. You have a way of seeing (and expressing) things that I feel like comes straight from the Father. I was thinking about you this afternoon after I read this verse recently (Proverbs 27:9-10): “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.” Thank you for offering that earnest and wise counsel so freely. Love ya!