A friend of mine had a hilarious experience with his young children.
One evening, after it had gotten dark, his children began looking out the window saying, “What’s that?”
He looked outside but couldn’t see anything.
Then another child said they saw it.
Then another.
Now my friend began to get concerned. Every one of his children could apparently see something outside that he couldn’t. His mind even started wondering if they were seeing something demonic.
Finally, it hit him.
They were seeing lightning bugs for the very first time.
This is a funny story and all, but there is a good lesson here. Sometimes we can over-spiritualize things.
We think the flat tire is an attack from the enemy. Maybe it was just a nail.
Sometimes we’re broke, not because the devil is attacking us, but because we haven’t managed our money well.
Sometimes we’re exhausted because we haven’t rested.
Sometimes a relationship is strained because of poor communication, not spiritual warfare.
Now don’t get me wrong. The enemy certainly can use life’s difficulties, even the ones listed, to discourage us, tempt us, and attack us. Scripture makes that clear.
But not everything that happens is a direct attack from the devil. Sometimes it’s simply life in a fallen world. Sometimes it’s the natural consequence of our own choices.
We must have wisdom and discernment.
If we blame every inconvenience on the enemy, we may miss the practical changes God is calling us to make. On the other hand, if we dismiss every spiritual battle as “just life,” we may fail to stand against the enemy when we should.
The goal is not to see a demon behind every problem, nor to ignore spiritual warfare altogether.
The goal is to ask God for discernment so we can recognize the difference, to know when it’s the enemy and when it’s just a lightning bug.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5 KJV)
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