In my last few articles, I showed how spiritual attacks begin with a loss of God’s presence in a person’s life and then moves into an overwhelming depression. Now I want to talk about discouragement and doubt. It seems logical that doubt and discouragement would come next, but the methods evil spirits use to attack people don’t necessarily come in chronological order. It isn’t like the person suffers each symptom separately for a determined amount of time. No, it doesn’t happen that way. It is more like they slip in and out of these afflictions without any real awareness. Demons know our vulnerabilities and use them against us. Then they expand the attacks to encompass a wide range of symptoms including depression, doubt, discouragement, fear, and many others. Evil spirits wear their victim down by attacking the person’s mind with discouraging thoughts and feelings of doubt, thus creating an atmosphere of hopelessness.
Discouragement is a lack of confidence in oneself, and doubt is uncertainty in one’s ability to achieve something, which can be connected to fear. Both are tactics the devil uses to oppress people and keep them from moving forward in life. He attacks the way a person sees themselves and the way they believe others see them. These thoughts of discouragement invade like soldiers invade an enemy’s camp. The soldiers represent demons, and their task is to annihilate their prey. With discouragement, evil spirits whisper all kinds of destructive thoughts into a person’s mind; you’re useless, don’t bother, you can’t do it, you’ll never get that promotion, you’re not good enough, etcetera. These thoughts are constant and specific to that person’s weaknesses. They will wake up with negative thoughts that will haunt them throughout the day, and go to bed with them at night. It is a relentless attack on the mind aimed at destroying the person’s self-confidence, leading to doubt and hopelessness.
“But my trust is in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” In your hands is my destiny; rescue me from the clutches of my enemies and my persecutors.”
Psalm 31:15-16
Doubt causes the person to hesitate in everything, making the simplest decisions difficult because they no longer trust themselves to know what is right. Now they have become insecure and question their ability to accomplish anything. They avoid people and conversations and retreat into a life of solitude. It is a terrible way to live. I know, because I lived that way for years. As long as evil spirits can keep people in the dark, they have an advantage over them. I am writing about these afflictions to help other people come to an understanding of what is happening to them. In this way, they can have a sense of awareness, which will help them come to some assembly of hope and encouragement. It is also important to say that the Lord allows these attacks so that the person will come to love God in a more profound way. He never leaves us alone, only void of feeling His presence. He wants us to feel a loss of Him; so that we go our searching for Him. Demonic attacks are horrible, but knowing that God can use them to produce a deep and profound love for Him, makes them easier to endure. Jesus surrounds you will angels. Pray and remain in a state of grace to limit the enemy’s power over you. Never stop believing that the Lord is with you. He will save you from the enemy in time.
“For his angels he has given command about you, that they will guard you in all your ways.”
Psalm 91:11
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Wendy , thank you this article really is helpfull.
Sure, I’m glad it was helpful