Mad at God? or Mad at Satan?

When unfortunate things happen to us, we often ask the question, "Why?" or "Why me?" This is a natural response and wondering why things happen to us is not wrong, bad, or even unhealthy. It can become unhealthy when we let it consume us and we question why God would have something less than ideal occur in our lives.

I am currently reading and studying the book of Job and am finding so many amazing truths in this small book. I have read it before and knew the basics of the book, but truly studying it has opened up my heart and mind to many new concepts and ways of thought. Job goes through seemingly every trouble that people come to counseling for- losing loved ones, "anxiety", losing his business, losing all of his money, "depression", suicidal ideation, sickness, and the list goes on and on. Job asked "Why?" about 20 times in the book of Job and God never did answer outright; however, Job trusted in the one who allowed him to suffer and came out victorious. Even though Job never knew why he suffered, he knew who was in control when he suffered, and who wasn't!

In the book of Job, Satan comes before the Lord and God points out his faithful servant, Job. It is then when Satan suggests that Job will abandon his faith that the Lord challenges that and sets out to prove him wrong. There is such a huge significance of Satan appearing before the Lord. This shows us that he (yes, even Satan) is under the divine control of God. He cannot act on his own, but must receive permission from God- wow! As scary as it might be to think that Satan is constantly trying to throw us off, it is also comforting knowing that he is not independent of God's control. In just this first bit of Job, we see that Satan causes bad things to happen to us, but it is God who allows it to happen. The Lord helps us in the midst of our struggle that He allows, in order to deliver us and conquer our enemies- once again proving his sovereignty over the world and the devil!

I am by no means a theologian, but I do feel like asking "Why?" is common for both Christians and non-Christians alike. Robert Bell notes "Satan would have us believe that God is not fair, yet we seldom consider the cruelty of the devil. I have never met anyone bitter about what Satan has done to him, but I have met many who were bitter toward God." WOW!!

It is the devil who is cruel- not God. The same struggles that the devil tries to hurt us with, God desires for us to have the victory. We may never know exactly why hardships come to us the way they do, but we know who is in control and who is on our side.

I encourage you (as well as myself) to be mad at Satan when hardships come, not God. It is God who has your best interest at heart and works everything together for your good; It is Satan to sets out to steal, kill, and destroy. Claim your victory!