Fighting The Real Enemy

by Grace Edwards

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Ephesians 6:12 

How many beautiful beach days have suddenly turned into a chaotic, soggy mess as storms rolled in—completely unconcerned about anyone’s feelings, schedules, or the time, money, and energy poured into planning the “perfect” day? How many dream weddings have been driven to backup plans because of an unexpected downpour? Who do we get angry at in those moments? Can we scream at the skies or throw things at the clouds to make them feel bad for ruining our carefully made plans?

It’s foolish to be angry at the wind, the clouds, or the rain. Nature does not yield to our frustration. In the same way, the Bible reminds us that when life feels dark, when our peace is stolen, and when conflict disrupts our plans, the true enemy is not usually the person standing in front of us. We so often see the problem as the “flesh and blood” people who frustrate us—the rude coworker, the neighbor who slanders us, the loved one who betrays us. But God tells us that our battle is not really with people. It’s a spiritual war. The real fight is against the rulers of darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness that work behind the scenes.

We must identify the enemies our eyes can’t see!

The apostle Paul warned us: “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 

Satan uses people and circumstances to bait us into anger, resentment, fear, and bitterness. If we stay focused only on what we can see, we will miss the greater battle and waste our energy fighting the wrong enemy. In his classic book The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis paints this perfectly. Screwtape, a senior demon, advises his nephew Wormwood to keep humans focused on what is immediately in front of them—the frustrations of daily life, the pettiness of disagreements, and the “ordinary” things that seem so consuming. Screwtape warns Wormwood never to let his human think about the greater spiritual war or eternal realities because that would wake him up to the truth.

The enemy’s tactic is to keep us tangled in the distractions of the temporary and blind to the spiritual war around us.

We must learn that people are not the enemy!

The person who disagrees with you is not your enemy. The person who slanders you is not your enemy. The person who betrays you is not your enemy. They are simply broken, fallen humans—just like you and me.

Sometimes, the enemy uses people to harm us. But the people themselves are not the source of the darkness. They are being influenced, just as we have sometimes been influenced—by sin. Paul reminds us:

“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.”  2 Timothy 2:24-25 

We must see people through the eyes of Jesus. They are either His children or they are captives of the enemy. Either way, our call is to love them, not to destroy them.

To identify the real enemy we must be spiritually alert and awake.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 

If you think you can coast through life without resistance, you will be blindsided by the spiritual warfare all around you. The enemy will gladly let you live a “comfortable” life as long as you are unaware of the fight and ineffective for the Kingdom of God. But if you wake up—if you stay alert—God will equip you to stand firm. He has given us spiritual armor for this battle (Ephesians 6:13-18). And He has promised that no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

My friend, when the storms come, don’t waste your energy yelling at the clouds. When people hurt you, don’t waste your time attacking them. Step back. Pray. Ask God to help you see the real enemy. Choose to fight in the Spirit, not in your flesh.

The battle is not about winning arguments or getting even. The battle is about advancing discipleship and glorifying God. We are soldiers in a spiritual war. Let’s fight the right enemy.

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who enlisted him as a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:3-4 

Reflection Thought

When you face conflict, pause and ask yourself: “Am I fighting the person in front of me, or am I fighting the real enemy behind the scenes?” 

Prayer

Father, help me to see people through Your eyes. When people frustrate me, remind me not to fight in the flesh. Teach me to recognize the schemes of the enemy and to stand firm in Your truth. Let me be a soldier who fights with prayer, love, and the Word of God. Keep me alert to the spiritual war around me and help me walk in victory through Jesus Christ. In His mighty name, Amen.

Grace is an author, singer, emergency department registered nurse, and mother to medically complex child.