I was a baby Christian and had just experienced an amazing encounter with God. I was “on top of the world,” as the old saying goes. Little did I realize that very soon, I would topple from that summit into a terribly challenging situation. 

I had just accepted Christ as my Savior and Lord. As the Lord often does with His new babies, He showered me with the “warm fuzzies” of amazing “coincidences,” quick answers to prayer, and a voracious desire to spread the Gospel. All seemed to be going smoothly. 

So, imagine my surprise when, after an exciting experience of bringing several new people into the Kingdom, my balloon was pierced with a major attack from Satan–an attack that sent me reeling and left me totally bewildered. 

What had happened? How had I suddenly plummeted from the heights of spiritual ecstasy to the depths of spiritual despair?  How had I, in the span of only a few minutes, gone from an exciting spiritual encounter with God to a potentially devastating situation which broadsided me unawares?

Today–from the perspective of many years of growing in Christ–I understand what happened. But back then, I was clueless.

Perhaps you, too, have experienced a spiritual high in Christ only to be followed by a brutal fall off the cliff into spiritual and emotional anguish. If so, you too, will want to know why this happened and what you can do to prevent a similar situation in the future.

THE WHY

First, let’s look at why we can fall from a spiritual high to a spiritual low in a matter of seconds:

1–Satan is always on the prowl to divide and destroy. He especially hates Christ-followers. Scripture tells us this in 1 Peter 5: 8: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 

Lions stalk their prey quietly. So does Satan. Lions are very patient. So is Satan. Lions attack suddenly. So does Satan.

Remember this: We fall when we fail to stay alert to the enemy.

2–Satan deceives us best when life is best. When things are going well, we are in a more relaxed state. We are enjoying life and not paying attention to the danger that lurks just around the corner. We are deceived into thinking that the spiritual high will last forever. In short, we let our guard down.

A lion looks for the moment when its prey lets its guard down. At that moment, the lion attacks suddenly.

So, we must never let down our guard, especially when things are going well. 

3-Satan’s lie looks like the truth. Satan’s chief device is deception. If he can get us to think that the lie is the truth, he has us.

The only antidote to Satan’s device of deception is to keep ourselves grounded in the Word and to speak the Word whenever we hear Satan’s roar.

THE HOW

Now let’s look at how Satan attacks us:

1.  Where there is unity, he tries to divide. Be it in a marriage, a family, a church, a business–Satan will always try to cause division. Be on the alert for any signs of division. Be on the watch for any person or persons stirring up division. Deal with division quickly. Nip it in the bud before it bears its ugly fruit:  a divorce, a church split, a failed business.

2. Where there is purity, he tries to corrupt. This happens most often in relationships. An engaged couple who have remained virgins are tempted to have sex before marriage. A person listens to gossip about a lifelong friend and believes it. An unhappy wife who has been faithful to her husband yields to the adulterous advances of a co-worker.

3. Where there is truth, he introduces the lie.  Satan does this by whispering a doubt-inducing question into our minds: Did God really say? It is the same question he used to tempt Eve, and the same question he has been using ever since. If Satan’s question causes us to question God, then we have stepped fully into Satan’s trap.

Since that day many years ago when I unwittingly fell into Satan’s trap, I have learned to be more alert to his evil devices. I have learned that whenever God is at work, Satan is also at work. I have also learned that it is when I think things are going well that I must be the most careful.

As God’s Holy Word warns us in 1 Corinthians 10: 12, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.”

Now, it’s YOUR turn:  Have you ever been broadsided by Satan?  Please leave a comment in the box below.

TWEETABLE: “WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, BEWARE!” by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio (CLICK TO TWEET)