From the very beginning, the enemy thought he had won when he tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit—the very act God had warned Adam not to do. What the enemy didn’t realize is that even in that moment when it seemed like Adam was defeated, God already had a plan in place. God’s plan to redeem humanity was set into motion long before that first sin. In Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT), we are reminded that “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.” Before time began, God knew that sin would enter the world, and He already had the solution: sending Jesus to save us! The enemy thought he could stop God’s plan and purpose, but in reality, God’s plan of salvation was already unfolding perfectly according to His Will. Nothing the enemy did could change this.
The beautiful thing about our God is that no matter how many mistakes we make, they never derail His plan for us. Even when we stumble or veer away from His path, God’s purpose for our lives doesn’t alter but remains intact. He doesn’t leave us to wander aimlessly through life. Instead, He has a perfect plan to redeem every mistake, every setback, and every failure. This is Good News indeed! Romans 8:28 (NLT) reminds us of this truth: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Nothing that we do can take us so far off course that God can’t bring us back. In fact, His Word promises that He is always working for our good. Even in the moments where life is crazy, and we can’t see how it all fits together, God is working it all out for our good.
Even more amazing is that nothing the enemy does can change God’s plan for each of our lives. This is where we must focus our confidence. Romans 8:37 reminds us that we are more than conquerors through our union with Jesus Christ. We are victorious through him, and we can fulfill our purpose in God’s plan with faith and love. It doesn’t matter how hard the enemy tries to block us, discourage us, or lead us astray—God’s plan is bigger and more powerful than anything that comes against us.
Proverbs 19:21 (NLT) tells us, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.” His purpose for our lives was set in motion before we were even born, and no matter the challenges we face, God’s plan and purpose will always prevail. Deceitful and dastardly, the enemy may think he has a hold on us, but don’t get it twisted, God is always working behind the scenes. He is always guiding us toward the destiny He has prepared for us.
Nothing is too big for our God. There is nothing that is happening in our lives that surprises Him. He sees everything clearly and perfectly, the past, present, and future. He knows the end at the beginning, and the beginning at the end; no detail escapes Him. Even though we are often caught off guard by life’s challenges, our Heavenly Father’s understanding of our circumstances is complete, and He is never in the dark about our struggles. Even when we face the unexpected, God already knows the path forward for our escape, and He has a plan to guide us through.
The real flaw in our faith is that we sometimes forget that God is infinitely bigger than our problems. When we focus too much on our difficulties, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the Creator of the universe is in control. We let fear and doubt creep in because we forget that the One who spoke the world into existence is more than capable of handling anything that comes our way. In John 16:33 (NLT), Jesus says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Jesus never promised a life that would be free from challenges, but he did promise us peace in the midst of the storm. He reminds us that even though we will face hardships, we can be courageous because he has already won the victory.
In His Word, God also assures us that no weapon formed against us will prosper. This doesn’t mean we won’t face trials, but it means that, in the end, God’s purpose will always prevail. Whatever the enemy throws our way, God is bigger, and His plan is greater. The obstacles we face are opportunities for our Great Big Wonderful God to reveal His power and faithfulness. We may not always understand why we go through certain struggles, but we can rest assured that God is using them for our good and His glory. In Ephesians 1:11 (NLT), it says, “Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.” No matter how fierce the battle, God has already secured our victory in Christ, and His plan will always come to pass.
So, even when it seems like the enemy has the upper hand, and that he has us in his grips, that is not the truth. Do not be afraid but have great heart in Christ! Be encouraged and watch in amazement as our God turns what the enemy meant for evil into a beautiful testimony of His faithfulness. What feels like defeat is often the very moment when God begins to transform your situation for His glory. Your story is not over, and God’s purpose for your life cannot be stopped. Be assured that what the enemy intended to harm you, God will use to strengthen your faith and to inspire others. So, trust in Him, knowing that nothing is wasted in His hands. In the end, God will bring forth beauty from the ashes, victory from defeat, and His perfect plan will always prevail. ■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Enemy Thought He Had Me”, written by KLizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.