What’s Behind the Trouble and Turmoil?

We all have things come against us. People may be treating us unfairly or we’re dealing with an illness or a child who’s causing heartache. In the world around us, we face wrongs, injustice, and evil. People are stirring up trouble and sowing discord. It’s easy to get upset and think a person or a group is the problem and we have to straighten them out. But the real enemy is invisible. The apostle Paul says, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world” (Ephesians 6:12). Behind the trouble and turmoil are forces of darkness influencing people to do wrong. If you just get angry at a person, a group, or the government, and try to make them do right or even take revenge, you’re going to be frustrated. You’re dealing with symptoms, not the source. You have to fight this spiritual battle in the unseen realm.  

The Scripture says, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Carnal weapons, meaning physical or natural, don’t affect the unseen. You have to use spiritual weapons—the power of prayer, the authority of the name of Jesus to resist the enemy, the Word of God and His promises to speak over your situations. Instead of just arguing with your child, trying to make him do right, you have to attack the invisible enemy source. “Forces of darkness, you will not have my child. In the name of Jesus, I command you to take your hands off him. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That’s doing battle where it matters. That’s attacking the spiritual power behind the scenes that’s influencing them, causing them to do wrong.  

Paul also says, “Put on the full armor of God, so in the evil day you will be able to withstand the attacks of the enemy” (Ephesians 6:13). We’re living in an evil day. There’s never been a time when there’s so much divisiveness, contention, and people pushing agendas that are against the things of God. There are forces trying to take your peace, keep you from your dreams, confuse your children, and bring strife with others. The trap of the enemy is to get parents fighting children, this group fighting that group, fighting coworkers, fighting the authorities. Don’t be fooled. You have to get to the source, the invisible enemy. Your spiritual weapons are mighty through God. When you call out to God in prayer, angels go to work in the unseen world. When you declare His promises, forces of darkness are pushed back. When you speak the name of Jesus, demons tremble, chains are broken, and miracles are set in motion. Rise up and take your authority as a believer.